What are your earliest memories?

[Phoenix84]

Some people claim they can remember stuff from when they were babies, but I don't think babies have the capacity to remember things.  I think people who make such claims think they remember things that are actually recreations of their own mind.

Anyway, what are your earliest memories?

[Phoenix84]

It's hard to say exactly.

I remember my parents putting me in my younger sisters crib to do some playing.  She was probably about 1 so I was around 2.5 to 3 years old.  I recall it because I remember spilling orange juice all over the crib from one of those kiddie cups.  I remember a few things from before preschool.  For example, playing on an elephent slide and wondering what school was going to be like, and doing a treasure hunt in preschool and thinking it was the best thing ever, and excidedly telling my mom about it on the way home.

Overall, my memory doesn't become really solid until around kindergarden.

[CarolinaKat]

My Earliest memory is the sound of my grandmother's clock chiming

My earliest visual memory is a trip where my parents took me to Disney when I was 3 (turning 4 a few months after). I remember the univers of energy ride, and playing in the sprinklers at EPCOT and the revolving resturant (which no longer revolves).

ETA, I now own the clock that chimes

[muttleynfelix]

Earliest memory - Visiting my parents while they were building our house. I was 2.5. I very vividly remember my Grandma walking me through the house while my mom and Grandpa worked.  

Earliest suppressed memory - It's a small world ride at Disney.  When I was 18 months old, we went to Disney. I didn't remember anything about it, or so I thought.  We went back when I was 12. We were going through the Small World ride and I was like Holy shit, I have been here before.  My mom and Grandma laughed and said, you should. You made Grandma ride it repeatedly with you when we came when you were 1.5.  

I remember quite a bit from age 3 and 4 ... which makes Karma such a bitch. When DS is doing something that is driving me nuts, I remember I did the EXACT same thing to my parents.  

[Phoenix84]

May 9, 2014 13:39:24 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

Earliest memory - Visiting my parents while they were building our house. I was 2.5. I very vividly remember my Grandma walking me through the house while my mom and Grandpa worked.  

Earliest suppressed memory - It's a small world ride at Disney.  When I was 18 months old, we went to Disney. I didn't remember anything about it, or so I thought.  We went back when I was 12. We were going through the Small World ride and I was like Holy shit, I have been here before.  My mom and Grandma laughed and said, you should. You made Grandma ride it repeatedly with you when we came when you were 1.5.  

I remember quite a bit from age 3 and 4 ... which makes Karma such a bitch. When DS is doing something that is driving me nuts, I remember I did the EXACT same thing to my parents.  

You were visiting your parents?  Were you raised by your grandparents?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Earliest memory I can recall is falling out of the car at around age 4. I remember the entire thing much to my mom's embarrassment.

[midjd]

I remember driving to my grandpa's house to get a Christmas ornament. My birthday is in February, so I'm guessing I was almost 3 or almost 4.

I also remember when we went to pick up a kitten from my aunt and uncle's house. This was also around Christmas, I was 3 (almost 4). I named the kitten Jeff and he died the summer after I went to college.  

DH swears he doesn't have any memories from before 1st grade.

[muttleynfelix]

May 9, 2014 13:45:00 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

May 9, 2014 13:39:24 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

Earliest memory - Visiting my parents while they were building our house. I was 2.5. I very vividly remember my Grandma walking me through the house while my mom and Grandpa worked.  

Earliest suppressed memory - It's a small world ride at Disney.  When I was 18 months old, we went to Disney. I didn't remember anything about it, or so I thought.  We went back when I was 12. We were going through the Small World ride and I was like Holy shit, I have been here before.  My mom and Grandma laughed and said, you should. You made Grandma ride it repeatedly with you when we came when you were 1.5.  

I remember quite a bit from age 3 and 4 ... which makes Karma such a bitch. When DS is doing something that is driving me nuts, I remember I did the EXACT same thing to my parents.  

You were visiting your parents?  Were you raised by your grandparents?

No. My parents were building our house.   My Grandma was babysitting me. I was 2.5. My parents couldn't watch me and work on the house at the same time.  I don't remember the rental house at all.  But I remember showing up at the house with my Grandma and my mom and Grandpa were working.  My Grandparents went home at the end of the day and I went back in my crib in my parents room at the crappy rental house.  I'm probably making no sense because I am sick as a dog today.  But, no I lived with my parents. I was visiting my parents while they were building the house (where a 2.5 year old did not belong). 

[Deleted]

I think the earliest thing I can remember is sitting in front of the house on the edge of the field, squinting in such bright light, watching dandelions move in breezes and feeling really warm.  I don't remember anyone else around, just me and sun and grass for some reason.

[Abby Normal]

I had dreams for the longest time about standing next to a big blue monster. Not all the time, but a few times a year.  It wasn't until high school that I figured it out. My mom and I were going through some old pictures and there was one of me standing next to Babe the big blue ox.  I was about 2.  

me:  Holy shit, that's it
Mom:  what?
me: my monster
mom : are you serious?

Then we had a good laugh.  I guess my young brain couldn't process it.  Only took me 14 years to get over the trauma of Babe.

[CarolinaKat]

May 9, 2014 13:49:11 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

May 9, 2014 13:45:00 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

You were visiting your parents?  Were you raised by your grandparents?

No. My parents were building our house.   My Grandma was babysitting me. I was 2.5. My parents couldn't watch me and work on the house at the same time.  I don't remember the rental house at all.  But I remember showing up at the house with my Grandma and my mom and Grandpa were working.  My Grandparents went home at the end of the day and I went back in my crib in my parents room at the crappy rental house.  I'm probably making no sense because I am sick as a dog today.  But, no I lived with my parents. I was visiting my parents while they were building the house (where a 2.5 year old did not belong). 

That was coherent to me  

Feel Better

[Tiny]

Well, I 'remember' JFK's assassination - even though I was born in early 1964. There are some 'memories' of a vacation too that aren't really mine (they are what my brother's tell me happened).

When I sort thru the 'memories' in my head I think the real earliest ones involve a sandwich I got to eat in the car as part of the funeral day for my Grandma (who I don't remember at all - but I do remember a cat she had that I wasn't suppose to touch) I remember the eating in the car because that was so not normal and I remember it being a day of having to be 'quiet' and 'sit still' and lots of people interested in seeing me (I was a 'curiousity' - my mom was 48/49yo at this point.)    I remember the cat because Grandma's cat wouldn't run away - it stood it's ground and now I suspect it wouldn't have been nice to me if I did get too close. Our family cat stayed out of arms reach. I was late 3 or eary 4 years old. I have a healthy respect for cats and enjoy having them around.

Alas, memories are malleable. I've spent some time on 'fixing' my childhood memories that I do remember. I had a pony! and my parents never fought/yelled and I didn't hate gradeschool. It's all good now.


google Elizabeth Loftus and/or false memories...


ADDED:  FWIW - I have alot of memories of Kindergarden and the things that happened about that time.   Stuff before that - is tricky... not sure if what I know about stuff before then is my memory or what I've been told happened or things I've seen in old family pictures.  

[Deleted]

May 9, 2014 13:30:42 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Some people claim they can remember stuff from when they were babies, but I don't think babies have the capacity to remember things.  I think people who make such claims think they remember things that are actually recreations of their own mind.

Anyway, what are your earliest memories?

My mother with dark hair. I told her this when I was about six years old and she told me she started dying it blond just before I turned 1 year old.

[mollyanna58]

I have some memories of my bedroom at my parents' first house, shared with my older brother and younger sister.  Brother got moved into our other brother's bedroom probably when sister graduated from a crib to a bed, so I was maybe 3 or 4.

I still remember a dream I had when I was about 5, with a giant alien in the backyard and I stepped out of the second story bedroom window into the palm of his hand.    

[Wisconsin Beth]

I think early memories are tied to strong emotions.  I have a handful of memories from the ages of 2-4ish and I also recall strong emotions.

1. My teddy falling though the bars of my crib and being unable to get him back.  I remember sticking my legs though the bars and being able to just touch him but not pick him up.  I was upset because I wanted Teddy.  Now my kids alternate who gets to sleep with Ted and it's not me!
2. My siblings putting a blanket over my crib.  I couldn't get it off.
3. Sitting on the step of my grandparents trailer and swinging my feet (and not hitting the ground) while waiting for them to come back. 
4. My sister getting sick at Aunt Stell's.  Same place as memory #3 but a different trip.  For years I thought 3 and 4 were the same trip but about 10 years ago learned that it was 2 separate trips when I was 2 and 3.  Or 3 and 4. 

[bookkeeper]

I remember my mom waking me up to see the first man walk on the moon. I would have been 5.

I can remember putting cabinet handles on the new kitchen cupboards with my dad. They built the house they live in when I was 2.5 to 3 years old.

I can't remember my first spanking in front of God and everybody at church.  My parents weren't the kind to spare the rod, so each of us got ours in turn, but I can't remember mine.  I do remember getting spanked because my brother broke the glass on the storm door with his whiffle bat.  Apparently I was supposed to be watching him closer.  I must have been 5 or 6. 

[Deleted]

I remember the landlord coming over and my dad telling him the front panel of the door got broken when he was throwing in wood. I remember because I know for a fact he kicked that panel in during an angry tirade... although i don't really remember the tirade... just the fact... just the lie... 

[muttleynfelix]

May 9, 2014 14:04:58 GMT -5 CarolinaKat said:

May 9, 2014 13:49:11 GMT -5 muttleynfelix said:

No. My parents were building our house.   My Grandma was babysitting me. I was 2.5. My parents couldn't watch me and work on the house at the same time.  I don't remember the rental house at all.  But I remember showing up at the house with my Grandma and my mom and Grandpa were working.  My Grandparents went home at the end of the day and I went back in my crib in my parents room at the crappy rental house.  I'm probably making no sense because I am sick as a dog today.  But, no I lived with my parents. I was visiting my parents while they were building the house (where a 2.5 year old did not belong). 

That was coherent to me  

Feel Better

Thanks.

[Deleted]

About four. Visiting great grandmas farm in Ill. She gave me milk to give the farm cats and kittens and in minutes I would be surrounded and a happy camper.

[Deleted]

When I see pictures of strong emotion, its almost like I can feel it, even though i'm not really remembering, but i think of that as an echo of a memory.

[Phoenix84]

May 9, 2014 14:42:25 GMT -5 bookkeeper said:

I remember my mom waking me up to see the first man walk on the moon. I would have been 5.

I can remember putting cabinet handles on the new kitchen cupboards with my dad. They built the house they live in when I was 2.5 to 3 years old.

I can't remember my first spanking in front of God and everybody at church.  My parents weren't the kind to spare the rod, so each of us got ours in turn, but I can't remember mine.  I do remember getting spanked because my brother broke the glass on the storm door with his whiffle bat.  Apparently I was supposed to be watching him closer.  I must have been 5 or 6. 

 

Ah, so you were the "whipping boy" for your siblings.

[Phoenix84]

Hmmm, so the general consensus seems to be about 2.5 to 4 years old being the first memory.

[Deleted]

book... you got your spankings AT Church?

[lazysundays]

My 4.5 year old remembers the parakeets we had before her sis was born. Sis born when dd1 was 25 months old.

Dd1 also remembers about 2 years ago when she asked for banana milk and dh just put a slice of banana in it. She will never let him live it down. Reminds him to mix the banana every time now.

My father went to USA when I was 4 so memories of him in Poland are definitely when I was 4 or younger. I remember seeing him running down the street towards the apartment building while militia was shooting gunfire across the streets. Martial law. I remember my sis me my mom as if watching us three in an out of body experience, running from my father, trying to hide in the back room behind a dresser but he knocked it down and beat us with his fists. They do say children remember events that happened when they were <4 only if it was extreme/traumatic/marvelous.

Oh and I remember trying to play with my father while he had papers in front of him at the coffee table. I teased him until he finally gave in and tickled me.

[steff]

I have 4 very clear very early memories.

I remember my Mamaw walking me across the street to the stop sign & being allowed to ride from the stop sign to the drive way (again, across the street) in the back of my pawpaw's truck when he came home from work.  I would have been around 3 yrs old. 

I remember being on the base in 29 Palms California & being allowed to climb over the "mountain" (in reality, just a big dirt hill) to a friends house by myself.  My mom watched from one side & my friends mom watched from the other.  It was a huge deal for me to do it "alone".  I was about 4. 

the clearest memory is also at 29 Palms.  My mom had a reel to reel player & made me my own reel.  I remember laying on the floor on one of those HUGE floor pillows with fringe (it was even 70's orange) under giant headphones listening to my reel to reel.  I remember the first song I listened to under the headphones, it was Rod Stewart's Maggie May.  I was 4. 

I have little flash memories of the fights & crap in California, but for the most part, I was in Houston with my grandparents while my parents were in Cali.  My dad was in Nam & my mom would go stay on base with him whenever he had time between tours of duty.  I went a few times.  I don't remember going to the beach or to Disneyland, even tho mom says she took me to both.

[Phoenix84]

May 9, 2014 16:14:49 GMT -5 steff said:

I have 4 very clear very early memories.

I remember my Mamaw walking me across the street to the stop sign & being allowed to ride from the stop sign to the drive way (again, across the street) in the back of my pawpaw's truck when he came home from work.  I would have been around 3 yrs old. 

I remember being on the base in 29 Palms California & being allowed to climb over the "mountain" (in reality, just a big dirt hill) to a friends house by myself.  My mom watched from one side & my friends mom watched from the other.  It was a huge deal for me to do it "alone".  I was about 4. 

the clearest memory is also at 29 Palms.  My mom had a reel to reel player & made me my own reel.  I remember laying on the floor on one of those HUGE floor pillows with fringe (it was even 70's orange) under giant headphones listening to my reel to reel.  I remember the first song I listened to under the headphones, it was Rod Stewart's Maggie May.  I was 4. 

I have little flash memories of the fights & crap in California, but for the most part, I was in Houston with my grandparents while my parents were in Cali.  My dad was in Nam & my mom would go stay on base with him whenever he had time between tours of duty.  I went a few times.  I don't remember going to the beach or to Disneyland, even tho mom says she took me to both.

I never understood why parents take really young children to disneyland.  They won't remember it.  I wouldn't take my kids until they were at least 6 or 7.

[TheOtherMe]

I agree about Disneyland and Disney World.  

I have two young memories.  Both involved traumatic events to a young child.

This was the summer I would have been 3.  Mom, dad and I, along with aunts and uncles and cousins, were at an aunt and uncle's farm.  The adults were playing cards and the kids were playing.  For some reason, they had kept us indoors.  This would have been in the late 50's, so no A/C to keep us indoors.  Next thing I remember is my uncle telling all of us kids to sit on the couch, which was against the living room wall in the center of the house.  Then I heard what sounded like a train and my uncle said the barn is gone.  Yes, we'd been through a tornado.  The only building or tree still standing on the farm was the house.  We were all in the house.

I started kindergarten at age 4.  I don't know if I was 4 or 5.  This was far enough in to the fall semester that mom was letting me walk alone.  I got lost between home and school because I was day dreaming.  I finally found the school, but the door was too heavy for me to open.  When the teacher went to let the class out for recess, there I was in tears because I didn't want to be counted tardy or absent.  She called my mother, who walked with my baby sister in her stroller, to meet me at noon dismissal.  I was not counted tardy or absent.

[spartan7886]

I remember the top of my grandfather's head, who died when I was 2 1/2. I apparently used to love to stand on his lap and rub my hand on his buzz cut. I never knew whose head it was until I told my mom about the memory. I also have several small items I know he gave me. I don't remember the act of receiving them, but I remember he gave them to me, I didn't have to be told.

My first memory not related to Papaw was the day my brother James was born. This one falls under the traumatic category, as it was also the day he died. In 1990, the odds weren't as good at 25 weeks as they were for Bunny. I was four for that one.

[Jaguar]

My first memory I was about 2 years old and I had an OBE, an out of body experience.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I have a lot of early childhood memories. I can remember being 3 or 4 y/o at my Grandparents place before they moved to another home. I can remember going up the stairs to the second level (it was an old house). I can remember the old wallpaper, etc. As a little kid, it was "scary" upstairs.

When they moved to their next home, I can remember the smells - grandma's baking, the smell of sawdust from grandpa's artistic woodworking when he was using the lathe in his garage to create a parquet table or decorative carving or bowl. The smell of lacquer or varnish as he put a gloss on his pieces.

Grandma's (or mom's) cooking smells - Fresh baked bread from scratch.

I can remember my first day of school, and going there on my own for the first time once I was settled in. School was a few blocks away. (Times were safer then).

I have memories of Christmas too - back as far as 3 or 4 yrs old.