My Childhood

I was born in Alexandra even though I have blurred images of the place, my parents moved to the city when I was only 5. Part of my childhood I was in the village with my paternal grandparents. I do have some memories of them, milking the cow with my grandfather, drinking to with my grandmother. I was never really close with my maternal grandparents mainly because they all passed on before I was even born, however I do have a memory of my great grandmother, she was blind and in her 90s. It was a rainy day and my cousin Langlihle was carrying me on her back and we were headed to my mother's house where she grew up and this old lady scolded us and said, 'Yeyi kuyanetha uyisaphi ingani'. Apart from that memory I don't have any. Maybe I do and I just don't remember. 

My dad's side of the family practically raised me for the most part of my childhood I was babysat by them and I had my cousin I used to play with when we were 5, we were pretty close and one day he woke up deaf and I lost contact with him, someday I hope to bump into him. Hopefully he will still remember me. I spent some of my childhood in Alexandra with my cousin Nomzamo, we not as close but we do communicate sometimes on Whatsapp. And I spent some of it in Kathlehong with my sister Maureen from my mom's side and honestly those were the best years of my childhood, I also spent it at Cresta with Sjabuliso, a family friend who turned into a sister, we recently reunited last year and we do talk sometimes. 

I had a pretty normal childhood, my dad was strict but he loved me with all his might. I was forever with him and most of my childhood memories are with him. He used to say, ' Nokubonga you always have an answer for everything', I know that irritated him at times but he appreciated it. As you can tell I have always been a talkative and very opinionated girl. I loved to play and interact with new people. I had my first crush in grade six and he played me shame, my first heartbreak was in grade 9. It was devestating the most horrible thing ever, my pain tolerance has always been high, like when I chipped my tooth in grade 4 to when my dad beat me up for stealing baby clothes for my doll. 

I loved my childhood, I never lacked anything I was content and happy.