What’s Your Earliest Memory?

[RabbitsRock]

I have a memory like an elephant, although DM thinks that some of my memories are from seeing old photos rather than actually remembering. My earliest memory is from a holiday in Wales when I was around 18 months old & I can picture myself lying in bed in our little cottage with the sun streaming in from a high window behind me.

I remember a lot from age 2, possibly younger - the plastic smell of my playpen, nappy changes, potty training, being cold in my pushchair and the feel of the wheels on the pavement, going to the HV clinic, viewing my nursery before I started, not being able to wear my favourite dress because it was in the wash... They are detailed memories, including conversation and emotions.

The earliest memory I can date for sure is my cousin’s wedding at 26 months. I remember not wanting to wear the dress my mother picked because it was scratchy at the neck and I didn’t like the colour blue. I remember driving there, the sun on my face through the windscreen and my mum trying to explain what a register office is, and trying out the strange word over and over in my head. I remember picking up confetti. I wanted one of each colour and I really wanted a red one, my favourite colour. I remember the thought process in my head deciding if dark pink counted as red. I remember being horrified to find an earthworm under the much desired “red” confetti and running away 😂

I also remember eavesdropping on inappropriate conversations between adults in my pushchair 😂 I would baffle my parents when I was 4/5 by asking questions about very adult things and cite a conversation from 2 years earlier when I was a toddler (malignant melanoma, abortion rights marches, Queen Anne architecture to name a few).

Sat on the floor drawing a picture for my new baby brother , I'd have been 2 and a half

I've got a few memories from when I was very small. I can still sing the song my grandmother must have taught me in her own language, when I was about two or three.
Some years ago, I told my Father about it, and sang the him the song and did the hand movements that went with it, he was absolutely flabbergasted that I could remember something from when I was so young.

What about people with visual memory? Also sign language users. Babies start to sign at about 9 months (if the parent(s) are sign language users) but it is estimated they understand some signs from 4 - 6 months.

I remember looking at the wallpaper through the bars of my crib. I think I was about 1 yo.

I remember being held by my dad we were on a pier somewhere and I could see the sea between the wooden slats. - my mum says it was ryde on the Isle of Wight and I was 1 ish

I also remember their old house - I was 9 months when we moved out I can remember the lounge carpet and the big window and dylis next door with the runner beans - my mum said that’s correct.

Standing in my cot, holding on to the bars with one hand while picking/peeling at the seam/edge of a newly papered (so not completely) dry bit of wallpaper. I told my grandmother (wallpaperer) many years later and she said I couldn't possibly remember it, I was under 18 months (she thought poss 16) I described the paper, white with little red flowers and she was shocked. After my efforts, she'd had to repaper the whole room as couldn't get any to replace the bit I'd erm played with.

2 years nearly 4 months. My mother bending down to me in her wedding dress and everyone laughing when I asked for a glass of beer and someone saying I could have orange squash.

Many other flashes which I think were quite early but none I can "date" accurately.

I remember being carried on my dad's shoulders across the golf course next to Filton runway and going to the top of the hill to watch Concorde take off for the first time.

Sitting at the top of the stairs in my sleepsuit and my dad walking past the bottom of the stairs looking surprised and saying "what are you doing there". When I told my mum much later about this memory she couldn't believe I had remembered it as I was only 18 months - but both she and my dad remembered it vividly as that was the first time they realised I could climb out of my cot.

I remember lying on my nanna and grandad dining room floor by myself on Christmas Day playing with my barbie Jeep whilst the grown ups drank in the lounge - I would have been around 3/4 as it was before my sisters were born. I also vividly remember potato painting in my first day of reception.

But can I remember what I walked in this room for?!

I remember having mumps and hallucinating that a lion was eating my feet. My stepdad then carried me to the sofa and I lay on his chest listening to his voice booming through his chest. I was 5

Flying to Hong Kong at 4 years old and eating chips with chopsticks while there.

Likewise, i can remember the colour of the walls and ceiling abive my cot and the window over my left shoulder at the head of the cot.

I can also remember the feel of the floorboards from my room along the landing, and the kitchen table we had as well as moving out of that house.

I was 3 when we moved out.

My dad lying dead on the sofa. I was 3.5 yrs old.

Curiousto I’m so sorry 😢

Pushing my baby brother down the stairs - I was 2 years and 8 months.

The interesting thing about memories is that the brain works by recalling the last time you remembered an event not the actual event itself.

You may feel that you can remember things from early age but you are really recalling the most recent memory you had of them.

It means that those who had vivid memories in early age invariable carry that through life because they keep refreshing those thoughts, sounds and images. They are not actually recalling events from decades ago they are constantly recalling more recent copies of them.

This isn't true.

My earliest memory is going to my great grandmother's house, and sitting on her knee in the back garden. I was only ever at her house once, and can describe the table and flowers in the stairwell, the table cover in her kitchen, the layout of the flat etc.

My GG died when I was 18 months, and my mother confirms that my description of everything is exactly how it was.

My earliest memory is from when I was about 2-3 years old. I stole the jar of honey from the kitchen and a spoon and was caught red-handed round the side of the house tucking in.

I blame Winnie the Pooh 😁 🐝 🍯

Getting hit.

My earliest is probably being a flower girl at my uncles wedding. I was 2.5 yrs old. I was running from one end of the dance floor to the other and going between different family. Also being told off for running across the dance floor a lot lol.

I remember my grandad, sitting on his knee playing music and having a carry on with him trying to do the rap from dub be good to me. You know the one from 1990 that wld go this is jam hot. That was our song. He was a bit of a character. Also waking him up on a Sunday morning on arrival at my grans and he was sleeping in his long johns lol. I sadly also remember when he died and everyone was at my house crying and I kept asking why was everyone crying and not understanding the answer. He was only 50 😢

My gran and grandad arriving at my house on his motorbike with my gran holding on at the back. They look so old when I see pics of them now. Some they must be in their 40's but look more like in their 60's!

The earliest I can date confidently is from about 18 months. I have quite a lot of memories from being a child: they start getting more frequent from about the age of 3 up. I remember riding a tricycle and injuring myself with said tricycle several times, and I learnt to ride a bike by the age of 4-early 5 I think. So it must have been 3-4 for those. The same for memories of my pre-school - I was only there til just gone 4.

There are some that I don't know if they are memories or stories as well.

Once it gets beyond 5 there are plenty of memories, not just odd snapshots.

Some of my friends reckon they have very few memories at all from primary school, which is astonishing to me - mine are very vivid.

I can remember being lifted out of my high chair by our neighbour's daughter when I was about 2yo. My Mum was there and the girl's sister as well. They wanted to play with the 'baby'.
It's a vivid memory for some reason.
I also can remember being chased down a corridor by my Uncle in my GM's house as I was ringing a hand bell. I was laughing and he swept me off my feet.
My brother still has the bell.

Dd remembers from 23 months. Seeing Ds in hospital.

I remember before 2 yrs 2 months because that is when we moved house.

I have several memories from before 3, including 2 of when I was in my cot.