Do you remember your childs firsts?

[Glasstabletop]

Inspired by another thread but only because its the latest in a number of "missed babys first X" posts which has got me thinking...

My kids are adults now (only just) and I basically remember none of their firsts. I remember how old they were when they took their first steps and what their first word was but I don't actually remember the events even though I was there for all of them.

I do remember the first time eldest got the hang of walking and was going as fast as he could giggling with sheer delight and I remember the first time youngest said a swear word because his great grandma taught it to him! I remember lots of moments like that (although not as many with youngest, TBH that was all just a bit of a blur) ... but their "firsts"... nope...

I just don't think it was that memorable to be honest, those things tend to be a bit ill-defined. Like they sofa walk and kind of take a step and it just evolves from that. Or they babble and kind of say mama but you cant be sure its intentional and then one day it clearly is, but you cant pick which bit of babble was the true first word. I think this is partly why I don't remember and it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I just wondered if this was just me?

Mine are still young at primary school and I find it hard to remember. In particular their first words, it was such a gradual process to go from babbling to actual words I found it hard to pinpoint an actual first word. I had to make it up as my kids keep asking me what their first words were!
I remember their first steps and that’s about it!

I am so glad you have written this as I was feeling a bit guilty about the number of firsts that I simply have no memory of!! I remember eldest dc walking and first word but not for younger dc. Mine are older now but I certainly have no memory of first ice cream or first chocolate button!

YANBU, our DD is almost 21 and, apart from steps, swearing and sleeping for more than two hours, I have no clear memories

First child yes ...2nd and 3rd no 😬

No! I have 4 dc's so it all gets very jumbled - I tend to erm...embellish the truth a little if they ask me directly. I tend to remember specific things such as their pet names for one another and funny things they said. But not "firsts", no.

I find defining their first word v hard- my eldest tried to say “mil” for milk and my youngest now is 17 months and says Go but not sure it counts as a sound or first word. I don’t really care about firsts -never have. My MIL gave my eldest her first bath, I slept.
I can’t get hung up on firsts- a first bath is followed by 6000 further baths. Plus children are constantly developing, a first today is overshadowed by a first tomorrow.

I dont remember them all and they are ill defined. But I was glad I was there because I got such joy from the moment (I'm not big of filming stuff so i just remember the happy feeling, I dont have much to look back on)

I remember a lot of them but not all. Some have been captured on video.

My 7 year olds asked me what their 1st word was and I couldn't remember, I always remember the 3rd's because it was my brothers name and she said it so much. Got a lot of 1st to come with the youngest.

I do have a lovely clear memory of DC2 sitting on the floor to put on her shoes and saying "shoe, shoe"!

First steps - no, I know the ages but have no memory of the actual event. But I do remember DC2 learning to ride a bike and DC1's first unaided swim. DC3 is a bit of a blur

I'm the same, I remember some of them but not all. I vividly remember the first time she crawled, because she was so angry and frustrated that she couldn't move by herself, and when she figured out the crawling she was so happy, it was lovely to watch. But I don't remember her very first solo steps, although I know what age she was (because I had to suddenly baby-proof when I was nowhere near ready!).

I don’t remember much other than their age when they first walked. I do remember their first definite word, I remember dd1’s first little walk as we were in Borders bookshop, but I don’t remember where dd2 first walked, just when.

My boy is only little so we've not had many firsts yet, but I have found it hard to define the moment, e.g there were lots of 'was that a smile or just wind', 'was that a giggle or just a weird noise'

I distinctly remember DD1s first steps.
DD2... I remember when she found walking more useful than crawling, but not her first steps. I can remember dD1s crawling and climbing as it was at 5mo and a bit of a nightmare...

I remember DD1s first tooth as it was really late. Also speech delay so it was a concern. DD2 was more 'normal' for speech so wasn't as memorable.

I don't remember all of them but funnily I do remember DD1s first ice cream. The look the shiver then the diving at it for more. I feel guilty I don't remember the first words or when they walked but luckily i wrote some of it down in a baby book that I must look at completing sometime for 30y old DD who has just bought her first house:)

I can remember lots of DD1s firsts. And not many if any of DD2's. I find that a bit distressing and feel really bad about it but in my defence they are only a year apart and I was exhausted all the bloody time (for about 8 years!)

I find all the threads about baby' firsts' really odd, along with the ones about in laws buying things that the mother wanted to buy. I was honestly so thankful for anything anyone else wanted to pay for and if they had turned up with an expensive birthday cake or new dress I would have been delighted. I am not quite sure what it is all about. Maybe at that stage with your firstborn, you have no idea that you won't remember much of it, or maybe for those who place importance on these things they actually do remember. Maybe they have a book to jot it all down with accompanying photos. I do remember my third child walking but only because she was nearly 18 months and showing no signs of wanting to walk and then one day she stood up, with a breaker in one hand and a biscuit in other, walked across a large room and sat down again. No hint of a wobble. Almost like she had been getting up at night and practicing whilst I wasn't looking.

Mine is 18. I can remember his first steps but only because it happened on a family members birthday. Can't remember first word, first tooth, literally nothing else!

@barometre

Mine is 18. I can remember his first steps but only because it happened on a family members birthday. Can't remember first word, first tooth, literally nothing else!

I hadn't even thought about the first tooth! I can't remember that at all, not even how old they were when they got them... or indeed lost them.

I remember her walking because it was on Christmas Day, but I've forgotten her first word.

Getting hang of walking, I remember. But not first steps (as he was cruising a lot). Same with first words. But I do remember his first taste of certain foods and things like that

No. I don't remember their first words or when they first walked. I do remember loads of milestones that were important to us as a family and that revealed their characters to us, but not the red book stuff.

No, it's all a haze from day 1. Although I do remember my first DCs first word because I thought he'd never speak. Lazy little sod

I don't remember many firsts from baby days. Remember first day of Reception for them all as I have photos and that helps.

I remember one's first cricket match because DC was a few months old and an Aussie bloke said, "First cricket match, eh?" And I hadn't even thought about it being his first cricket match. (And we have a photo at said "first cricket match")

I think I will remember their first weddings. There is still hope.

Just speaking from the other end of the scale (1st baby still under a year old) - I'm not especially bothered about whether I'll remember every 'first' in the long run, it's more the overall experience now that I want to enjoy. If other people start picking all the good bits off I'm essentially just here doing nights and nappies! That's an oversimplification obviously, but I'm the DM putting in all the graft, I get to say which of the highlights I'm going to attempt to witness.

No. I'm sure it was genuinely important to me at the time but they are in their 20s now and the only time I ever think about or talk about their firsts is on threads on here that ask if you can remember your kids firsts. 😁

@mumonthehill

I am so glad you have written this as I was feeling a bit guilty about the number of firsts that I simply have no memory of!! I remember eldest dc walking and first word but not for younger dc. Mine are older now but I certainly have no memory of first ice cream or first chocolate button!

That's partly why I wrote it to be honest, I hate to think of people riddled with guilt because they missed their babies First Whatever and here's me with two adult kids who can only vaguely remember most of it and am not bothered in the slightest. I think I was a pretty good mum, they are both doing really well.

I don't remember their first day of school. Their first birthday party. Their first trip to the baths. Their first insert any food apart from curry with the oldest (he wouldn't eat anything then snatched a handful of curry from my plate one day and devoured it, who knew I needed to give him spicier food?). I remember oldests prom because it was still relatively recently (not that I give a shite about it) but youngest didn't even go.