To think you quickly forget the early years?

[antelopevalley]

My children are teenagers and it surprises me how many of the detail of the early years I simply can't remember anymore. I remember random things of course, but I mainly remember the good times, and I know it was not always like that. And the good time memories seem to be more prominent.
For example, I remember the lunch meet-up I had with a friend where both children who were under five sat and ate nicely while we had a good adult chat. I only have very vague memories of standing outside a pub and restaurant with a screaming baby or a howling toddler.
I do remember vividly a few terrible times e.g. cluster feeding, but most of the bad memories have faded while the good memories are far more prominent.

So is this a common experience?

I guess it depends on your overall experience.
The misery of DC’s early years are pretty ingrained in my brain, interspersed with just a few light moments and memories of gorgeous smiles.
I knew from early baby years something wasn’t right but got fobbed off by the professional for years. The dread of going anywhere and doing anything, because of the sort of behaviour we’d have to deal with, along with how many tuts and disproving glances we’d have to endure.
Having a child with ADHD/ASD means I have the opposite memories.

I've just had my first baby four months ago and I've been meticulously recording, photographing and writing about her in her baby book. I make a photobook for each month of her life with little notes in and take videos whenever I can. I just make sure I don't let my phone get in the way of being in the moment and do all my writing when she's asleep. Sounds completely mental now I see it written down but nevermind! I'm hoping it'll help me remember the little things (good and bad) in the long run

My sister's dc are in their twenties now and she remembers hardly anything from when they were little, I remember loads about them though!

Mine are 14, 18 and 29 and I remember an awful lot, especially middle child who cried a lot! But went on to be the easier child / teen ever

This. Exactly the same for me.

I have to look at old photo's to remind myself.

I remember the first couple of years as being hell. The really difficult times are definitely more memorable after that too (ie potty training) although I spent so much time playing with him and he was so cute. Now he's a teen things are so much easier, I don't have to worry about peer pressure (doesn't care), pregnancy (no interest in relationships), alcohol (doesn't even like fizzy) or so many other things that made me an absolute nightmare as his age (ds has ASD too).

Oh I bloody hope so. I've had the day from hell with both of mine - 4 and 2.

I remember everything. It wasn’t unrelated to my decision to have only one child.

I’m with you. I was only saying to my mum recently how I really have to concentrate to remember anything, and it’s all tinted through my rosy glasses! I had twins who came early so it definitely wasn’t all fun and games!

@ChiefWiggumsBoy I have to remind myself I am seeing it through rose-tinted glasses.
I had a week where both of them had really bad diarrhoea and sickness, I was up loads every night cleaning up and changing nappies. It seems okay now in my memory.

I have terrible memories of that time, as DH died when our DDs were 11 months and just turned 2 years. Their early years are blotted out by overwhelming grief and exhaustion, and I still, 30 years later, can’t bear to recall how awful it was.

The early years were a blur for me. But I'm certain I had pnd. Particularly when I had my second, just 11 months after my first, I can't remember much about it at all. And it's only 8 yrs ago.

I remember everything. It wasn’t unrelated to my decision to have only one child

I think this is a good point. I have 3 and although its absolutely brilliant and they are each unique, some of their babyhood etc does merge together, and I was so tired by the time the 2nd one came along I can hardly remember much. I've tried hard to make individual boxes and letters of memories for each one.

Mine are still young and I still don't really remember much. My littlest is about to turn one and much of the last year feels hazy.

I have terrible memories of that time, as DH died when our DDs were 11 months and just turned 2 years. Their early years are blotted out by overwhelming grief and exhaustion, and I still, 30 years later, can’t bear to recall how awful it was

Gosh that's really tough. 😔