To ask how much of your childhood can you remember?

[gratefulll]

I was chatting with friends earlier about childhood memories and I was surprised at how much they can remember. I can barely remember any of it. I have small glimpses of certain things like little snapshots of memories but no really detailed stories I can tell. I am only in my 20s so thought I should be able to remember more.

How much can you remember?

I'm nearly 50 and can remember a good chunk of my childhood.

I remember 70% but I cannot remember doing anything with my mum at all. My mum and dad were equally as involved but I can't remember a single thing I did with my mum or even how she looked before I was 12, yet I remember doing plenty with my dad... weird

I am over 70 and can remember sitting in a baby chair in my grandmother's kitchen doorway. The chair was like a low level high chair with a tray on front. there were things I now know were building blocks painted on the tray.I can still see the faint figures of my mother and grandmother moving around in front of me as they prepared food.
This is my very earliest memory. I told this to my mother many years later and she told me that I must have been about 10 months old. We lived with my grandparents when I was a very young child and I used to be parked in the kitchen doorway when they were cooking so they could keep an eye on me.

My first memory is me around 2, but it's just a flash really. Got few memories of our flat that we left before I started school.
Remember my first day of school, and from there I have quite a lot of memories.
Before 7, it's more of a collection of events, but after that, it's pretty much a narrative.

There's a time which is a bit of a blur though, between my 21st to my 26th.
I wouldn't be able to form a narrative with that era. It makes sense since it was the time where I was settled in a job, in a relationship, so it was pretty much always the same.

I guess if I remember my childhood so well, it was partly because it was pretty chaotic and there were notable events such as a change of flat, a new sister, death of a pet, rows between my parents, divorce etc...

I thought that I remembered very little from my pre-teen years and put this down to the trauma of losing my beautiful Mum and it becoming a 'no go' area to discuss memories. But recently, I randomly decided to look up my childhood address on Rightmove. The house had been sold not long ago, and had been furnished/changed very differently. But what surprised me was how many memories started to come back from over 3 decades ago. Made me cry but also happy in that some memories were as clear as if they'd happened yesterday. Memory is a strange thing.

This is interesting as I was out with my DM today (she is 87 and I am 62 ), she loves reminiscing and was talking a lot about her childhood and early 20s (some memories more detailed than I really wanted to know!) when she flat shared with two girls in Hampstead, must have been the early 1950s. I can also remember quite a lot about my childhood.

I remember most of it in great detail, even being a toddler. However I can barely remember anything after the age of about 21. I think my memory bank just got too full!

I have very few memories of childhood, which was traumatic, but actually all of my past I have very vague memories of. Weird!

My earliest memory, I was about 2. I can remember most things from 4 onwards.

I moved around quite a bit when I was small. Maybe that is why I can tie a memory to a particular age, because I also remember the place where it happened.

I remember pretty much everything from aged 3 onwards and a few bits from before then.
I remember going swimming with my heavily pregnant mum in an 80's maternity swimsuit, quite the look!
I remember all the children from my primary school class, in order from the roll call and what they looked like, all my teachers, some substitute teachers, some lessons in great detail, lots of my favourite clothes or shoes, my toys.
Also remember where we lived and places we went on holiday, and our neighbours.
DH can't remember much at all before high school, his memory generally isn't great which can be tricky when we've agreed something and he has forgotten.

I remember stand-out things from early childhood pretty well, like holidays, school trips/plays, visits from foreign relatives etc. Age 9-11 I remember pretty clearly, then 12-17 is basically a blank with some random exceptions. I was a very depressed/anxious teen with a strained relationship with my parents and I think that’s why.

Weirdly though, my emotionally fraught late teens/early 20s are then quite clear, but my much happier mid-late 20s are a total blank!

I’m 52 and remember loads from age 3 and beyond. Lots of it in detail.

My mother left when I was 7, I remember things before that with fondness. After that things were quite traumatic and I remember most of it. Usually being parked with other relatives.
All turned out ok for me, I have my own lovely family.

Also, I was born in another country (hit, Mediterranean) and lived there until I was two, then moved to a very rural location in the North of England for a couple of years then to north London. Very contrasting locations - if life had gone on in a similar fashion without much change I might have remembered less.

Pretty much the same as you OP
I'm in my mid 50s though.
I had a very happy childhood and no traumas - I just don't have a very good memory.

I can remember a lot of lows and a few tender moments.

No memories at all before age 6.

I've had people tell me more than once that I have more childhood memories than most people. I remember a fair bit I think. I think it helped that my parents both talked (well, still do) talk about childhood memories of theirs, and my granny did too, so it seemed pretty normal. It also helps that we have lots of photos of my childhood- one of my favourite things at Christmas as a child was to get out the suitcase of photos and go through them and we would all talk about places and holidays and old dogs/relatives/days out etc that were in the photos. I have very clear memories of the houses my grandparents lived in, especially the one my granny lived in when I was maybe 5-12 ish.

I remember so much from being 2 and a half-ish onwards but a lot of my adult life is just a blur. I remember being a bridesmaid and crying all day (my mum had apparently told me they were going to have a new baby after the wedding). I thought they were replacing me and wouldn’t leave my mums side all day. I remember watching my dad get ready to take me to see my mum and new sister in the hospital a day or 2 later. My sister is exactly 2 years and 8 months younger than I am. I have a few vague memories from before then too. I did have a happy childhood and I have lots of lovely memories of playing with my extended family. I remember playschool and my last day there, banging on the table with the other kids for food at snack time and the toys I used to play with too. Starting school. Holidays. Random stuff like my next door neighbour once picking me up from school as my mum had accidentally locked herself on the back garden. Ask me what I did yesterday or a couple of weeks ago and I’ve no idea.

I can remember snippets from age 2 on a family holiday and then quite a lot of memories but I have put it down to moving 4 or 5 times so I know how old I was depending upon where we were living / particular holidays. My DH has virtually no memories pre leaving high school which saddens my DMIL as she put so much effort into giving him a happy childhood. I’m a very inquisitive, interested person who likes to know the ins and outs of things whereas my DH is very relaxed and easy going so I have wondered if there is some connection...

I can remember loads and my first memory Is before I was 3. I remember moving to our new house when I just turned 3 and vague snippets from the house before that. I remember being in my cot as a toddler speaking to my brother.

I remember being 2 and sticking everything in my mouth I also remember grass being planted in front of our house. I clearly remember my 3rd birthday.

Lots. Little things, big things, people, feelings.

My mum realised my first memory was at 18 months old, but I do have an incredible memory according to other people. I remember trivial conversations that happened 40 years ago, facts from books that I read at university. I can recite an entire speech from The Merchant of Venice that I learnt for my O levels in 1981. At that stage in my life my memory was literally photographic, I could visualise a page in a book and read it if I had revised the subject. I have amazing recall for news events throughout my life.

I think having a memory like this is a double edged sword, the memories are so vivid and present so sad things remain with you.