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Wendi Gordon's avatar

I wasn’t shamed to that degree until I hit puberty, but yes. And I think it would be terrifying for a five-year-old to be sent to any boarding school, no matter how wonderful the school was. And the one you attended sounds truly awful. How cruel of the nun to take away the stuffed animal your dad gave you!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

I know! And the nuns were written up as being ‘so kind’. Ha!

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The Grands Club's avatar

Kisane, I truly enjoyed your blog-- When I saw your first photo I thought, "wow, that could have been my school." And then I saw the photo of the chapel and thought, "that looks exactly like my school's chapel!" And then the third revealed Convent of the Sacred Heart-- Ahha! I attended (as did my mom and aunt and cousins) Convent of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis. It was a boarding school but I was a "day-tripper." My sister-in-law attended 91st street in NYC - another Convent of the Sacred Heart. By the photos you posted, the nuns must have used the same architect! I honestly loved our french nuns and all of the Sacred Heart customs -- but, they absolutely could be very intimidating!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Wow, that's amazing, Kathy! What a coincidence. I may have had a different impression if I'd been older and hadn't been so homesick!

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Safe Space for Wobbly Humans's avatar

Thank you for this powerful story. I'm sad it actually happened and the child was so anxious and alone 😥💖

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Thank you ☺️

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Leslie R. Schover's avatar

Very sad. At least you had a few pleasant memories. I think very few children have not been shamed occasionally, but that place sounds like shame R us!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

I read an official account online which said how kind and gentle the nuns were 🙄 I’m sure any act of kindness would have stood out in my memory given how rare it would have been!

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Alexandra's avatar

So interesting.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

☺️

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Carolyn Faggioni's avatar

Thanks for sharing a fascinating story.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

☺️

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Debbie Rainer's avatar

Fascinating read.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Thank you 🙏

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