My First Childhood Memory

A few weeks ago I attended a writing conference as PD. We had to do an exercise where we had to think back as far as we could to our first childhood memory. I picked my brain for a long time- I remember having a great childhood but can only remember small snippets. The first one I truly remember actual small details of was this one particular moment when I was starting school.

I was probably around 4 or 5. My sister and I went to a daycare pretty early in the morning but I left on a bus from daycare to go to Head Start. When the bus arrived I walked out of the door and I heard crying. It was Brandi (2 or 3) leaning against the glass door with her hands pressed against it. She was crying and saying "Ya-Ya", which was the nickname she called me. She didn't want me to leave. At 4 years old I remember feeling incredibly sad and wanted to go back and hug her and hold her and kiss her and tell her I would be back. It was probably the first time I felt this protective instinct over her and this strong bond towards her because I realized she needed me. At that moment I realized what my role as a big sister was. She needed me and I needed her, and I would always protect her. I will always protect her and make sure she never feels abandoned.

Happy Birthday Brandi Starr Gardner! I love you to the moon and back. You are my first childhood memory. I promise that I loved you when you were little even though a lot of pictures show major stink face from me and it looks like I am not happy to be around you. I will always be here for you and am so proud of who you are and who you will be. 

Xoxo, Ya-Ya