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 can remember from being age 4. I’m late 20s now. I remember a lot for various negative reasons.

@LadyCatStark

I was thinking this the other day; we spend so much time and money trying to give DS lovely experiences and he probably won’t remember half of them when he’s older 🙈.

But then again, he might! And even if he doesn't remember all the specific experiences, if he's had a happy childhood he will have a feeling of having been loved!

Barely anything, the only memories I really have are either family stories or because I have photos and have talked about them. I find that if I don’t talk about a time then it disappears from my memory. I also don’t remember much from Uni or giving birth - just vague bits here and there.

Loads a few as far back as play school.
I have a good long-term memory. I remember details, dates and years, phone numbers even clothing.
I don't remember what I done 5 minutes ago my short term memory is horrendous.

I have a really appalling memory.
I think some of it is a looking back with rose coloured glasses and trying to block out some of the crappier parts, of which there were a fair few.
Some bits that I do remember are completely random and fill me up with happiness like a balloon been blown up...stepping through a bit of melted tarmac outside the shop my mum worked in while I waited for her to finish work....sitting in front of the fire watching an Alfred Hitchcock film with my sister.
It's a bit like looking through a window that has been hurred up, and occasionally something will jog a memory that wipes clean a little hole and I can see it clearly.
The other reason I have a crap memory, is I think probably because of the shed loads of hash I smoked when younger.

I can remember flashes of being 2 or 3.
I can remember being in my cot, picking my ear, tasting ear wax, thinking "eurgh" and wiping it on the stripy wall paper I changed bedroom at 3. I also remember the fluffy puppies in the barn the day we got the dog.

I moved house/ area at 7 so that's quite a clear distinction in my timeline.

I have a great memory for random stuff. Useful, fubctional stuff like what did I come upstairs for, not so much...

I have the odd vague memory here and there, but nothing long lasting. Just snippets really.

Happy childhood (from what I do remember) and parents just celebrated 45th wedding anniversary.

DS1's memory is like mine. He has dyslexia, dyspraxia and ASD.

I remember quite a bit. Turns out my now grown children don't remember that much. All those bloody weekends l dragged myself out of bed to give them special days out they don't remember..but they do remember random non events. Should have saved my money🤣🤣

I remember loads. But I think some is helped by my parents' photo albums.

I remember a lot, my dad died when I was 12 (over 20 years ago now) and I remember a lot of the lovely things he did with us since I was 2. Sometimes I remember some things and it’s just as if it happened yesterday.
I remember my younger brother’s christening when I wasn’t even two, I remember what I ate and that I became sick after and my mum was shouting at me that I’m horrible and just ruining the party and no one ruined my christening.
I remember my mum was always shouting, when my younger brother started eating solids, he used to eat all his food and I remember my mum always forcing me to eat, I’ll sit at the table for hours until I finish the food, she’ll keep reminding me that my brother will be bigger than me before I know it. He ended up being taller than me by the time I was 6 but she always says it’s because I don’t eat all my food.
Lots of wonderful memories of my dad, a lot of other annoying things my mum always say and do, many things I don’t even want to remember but I just can’t forget it

My brother remembers very little but he had a wonderful childhood. He is also not very aware of outside of himself really. I had an awful childhood as I was abused but I am soo very aware of what’s going on with others. Empathetic I guess. My dc, the middle will remember loads as he’s like me. The older less so as he’s not very aware of others like we are.

I think my earliest memories are from when I was around 6 or 7 years old.

I can remember loads. I can remember sitting on a low wall for a photo and I was only 3. I can remember first time at play school and school. My grandad who died when I was 4. I remember him taking me to the park. I remember Mum going into hospital to have my younger sister and I was under 4 then. My Dad took to hospital to see them both and I got ice cream on way home. I can remember days put with my aunties and what I got for birthdays and Christmas. How strange you.can't remember.

I have a fairly clear plan in my head of the house we lived in from age 3 to age 6, but no internal plan of the house before that. I have snippets from about age 4, but not whole swathes of narrative for most of it.

I remember a lot of the bad experiences and a few of the better ones. Mostly I just remember being weird and unpopular and not realising why

I remember my 3rd birthday we had spent the night in the Andersen shelter, and I remember walking up to the house in my dressing gown and slippers feeling excited because it was my birthday.

@Evenstar

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.

Gosh, I'm the same! I sometimes feel almost creepy because I remember pretty much every conversation I've ever had with other people, and therefore I remember quite a lot about other people's lives, and if I this ever becomes apparent I feel really stalkerish. (If that makes sense!)

I remember so much of my childhood. My mum also realised my earliest memory was from around 18 months, which is insane. My older brother is the exact opposite and doesn't remember a thing. I love having a really good memory because I love revisiting all the good times I've had, but I too remember all the bad stuff as well so it's easy for them to come back too.

Most of it.

I can remember some things before 2, obviously not much.

From starting school it’s about as clear as adult years.

@rhubarbgin7

Pretty much the same as you, and I'm also in my 20's. I remember bits and pieces but I couldn't tell a detailed story about something, like you it concerned me when people can sit and remember all the details and I can't. I know I had a good childhood and I wish my memory was better. Same with secondary school when I was a bit older, only remember bits and pieces.

Same though I was bullied and also suffered dv as a young adult and so wonder if in blocking out those memories my brain has blocked a whole raft of them. I now find I cannot remember things said in arguments almost immediately after they have concluded

I can remember a lot.

Very little although my father was abusive so I think I may have blocked it out.

My memories start at age 3. I have one or two images per school year. Sadly I seem to only remember bad memories, such as being smacked, being made fun of, feeling left out, being told off, etc. I have had times where I have blocked something out completely and then something triggered a vivid flashback years later.

This thread is a great relief to me. I thought I was peculiar for remembering so little. Seems not.

@LadyCatStark

I was thinking this the other day; we spend so much time and money trying to give DS lovely experiences and he probably won’t remember half of them when he’s older 🙈.

Oh don't be sad/frustrated about that. I have very few memories of my childhood, just odd snippets but I know I was happy & loved. The feelings help to build you as a person, not specific memories. Spending money isn't essential, but if it gives him experiences & family time it's worth it. Possessions, not so much.

It's somewhat reassuring to know other have scant memories like me. My oldest friend remembers pretty much everything...& all the things she's been told about older generations etc.