Can't picture children's faces in memory's

[Worrier21]

Hi

Really been beating myself up about this lately, almost to the point of being depressed.

I have two wonderful kids, both teenagers, one at uni the other at home (upstairs most of time). Really been missing the hustle and bustle that used to be in the house when they were young but that's not the main reason for the post.

I've be thinking a lot of past memories of things we did with the kids when they were younger, holidays, trips out, school plays etc. We have thousands of pictures of the situations but when I visualize them in my head I just can't see the faces of my kids as they were at the age they were then.

In fact I can't see their faces at the different ages in any of the memories, I can remember the situations and what they were doing, I just can't see their faces as they were then.

Why can't I see their faces? Is this normal?

Thanks

This is normal for me. I can’t see the details of people’s faces in my memories. I barely remember DS as a baby and he’s only 19mo now.

I have trouble with this too and my dcs are only young.

Yes same and my eldest is only 6! I already can’t remember him at 2!! Don’t worry, that’s why we have photos. I think memories of loved ones are more about feelings, they never play in your head like a film with all the right detail. They are meant to be abit abstract. Sounds like you feel abit low about them getting older and potentially leaving home, which is so normal.

I can only picture my kids' younger faces by remembering photos I have of them! Thank goodness we have photos nowadays.

I thought this was just me

I can't picture my grown up 16 year old as little until I see his photos.

I've forgotten what my DD looked like as a little one, and even my 3 year old, I've forgotten him as a baby.

It made me quite sad, but now I read this, I think maybe it's normal.

Just keep lots of photos about the house

Can you create imagery at all? If you have no 'minds eye', this is called Aphantasia. Quite a distressing thing to realise you have (speaking from experience).

I recently learnt I have aphantasia but don’t find it distressing - it is what it is. I just don’t see things visually when I think of them.