Anyone else have very few memories of childhood?

[Miss Chicken]

I have some memories of when I was three and many memories of when I was five and older. My eldest son has very clear memories of a holdiay around Australia when he was 4 and a half. My youngest son, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have very strong memories of before he was about 7.

I know that some of the holiday memories weren't reinforced by my recounting stories of the trip to him because I found him, as a teenager, recalling parts of the trip that I had long forgotten until he triggered my memory.

 

[thestrangequark]

My earliest memory is from age one, sitting on the patio of a house we moved from before I turned two. I also remember my second birthday. It's disconcerting to have such vibrant, vivid, and accurate (they've been verified) memories of such a young age, and yet to be able to remember a handful of the professors I had in college.

 

[jamestyler]

I don't remember much outside of the last five or six years. That could be down to my life restarting around then, or memory loss I gained from concussions - but most of my childhood seems a blur. Though there are a few memories, but nothing important or vivid.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

My earliest childhood memories were also of about age 1. I distinctly remember listening to "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" over and over (Charley Pride is my favorite country singer).

 

[sidious618]

I drank them all away.

 

[Mr Awe]

I never understood this phenomenon. I have very vivid memories of my childhood.

Funny you should bring up this topic because I have pretended not remembering things so as not to be thought of as a freak by people I know. I can remember dates, people and places with just the slightest prompting. But I'll feign not knowing. I'll usually tell my wife afterwards, or she'll just know and mention it later, because she knows my memory is quite good.

I see no need for you to pretend to not remember. It is a part of who you are. And, I think your ability isn't that unusual anyway. If you can remember the specific date for most things, that is a bit unusual but the rest is fairly normal. Certainly don't feel like you have to hide it. In fact, most people will enjoy having the dates filled in, "oh, that's when that was!"

When I'm telling stories of things I remember and someone doesn't remember it, or maybe just not all the detail that I can recall, it's like telling them a new story. They enjoy it. View a good memory as a gift.

Mr Awe

 

[RoJoHen]

I have very few specific memories of childhood, but nothing really before the age of 7. Even then, the only memories are very major "events" or things out of the ordinary.

For example, I remember the time I was outside during a solar eclipse and running to hide in my neighbor's house. I remember the time my best friend and I got caught looking at porn (his grandpa's old magazines) in his basement. I have some vague ideas about a few of my classmates.

Honestly, though, I really don't remember much of anything before 3rd grade. I know things about my childhood, and I can make a mental picture of them, but I don't really remember them.

 

[Jadzia]

I have tons of memories from my childhood. I do value my memories a lot though, so I often make an effort to recall them and remember them, which I believe helps to maintain their longevity.

I worked out from discussions with my parents that the earliest memory I have is from when I was 6 months old. And from the age of 1+, I have lots.

My memory is pretty good, but I don't have a photographic memory. My memories are mostly video with sound. Scent memory is also something I have. I can remember scents I experienced 20 years ago, and can still 'imagine' them.

 

[propita]

Mostly, I remember nothing. Sometimes an image, a scene, an event. Occasionally, very very detailed.

I also usually not only don't remember my dreams, I don't even have that, "Oops! There is goes" feeling upon waking.

But the last few nights, I dreamt--no idea what it was about, but nothing traumatic--and talked in my sleep. I know I talked in my sleep because I heard it, felt my mouth moving as I was speaking, became aware that I was talking, and woke up.

What is up with that?

 

[Miss Chicken]

I have been thinking about what I remember.

I remember my brother as a baby. He is a few days short of being exactly three years younger than me.

I have extremely vivid memories of sitting down on a jackjumper nest when I was four. I was bitten many times.

I have memories of getting my tonsils out when I was four.

I have a memory of leaving my beloved teddy-bear in the playhouse and my Dad having to go out in the pouring rain one night to retrieve the bear. According to Dad I was about 4 at the time.

I have quite a few memories of the family trip we made to Queensland. It was the only time I ever met my maternal grandmother and several of my uncles and aunts. I was just short of five years old at the time.

I remember going to Lady Gowrie preschool kindergarten. I started there when I was three and left when I was five. I think most of my memories are from when I was four and five.

I have numerous memories of living in my first home in Margaret Street. I left there just before I turned seven and I believe my memories of that place start from when I was about 4. Most of the memories are of playing with my cousins. They and our house backed onto the same laneway and we used to play in the laneway. Other memories I have of this home are of the budgies my Dad bred there, and of two sets of neoghbours who we knew will (but didn't visit once we moved).

 

[kitkat]

I, apparently, have an amazing memory. I remember things that my mom can't believe I remember. I have actually reminded her of things that she had forgotten.

I actually remember my first birthday party.

I recently mentioned to my mom something about one of the houses we lived in when I was a kid and she said, "I can't believe you remember that house...I barely remember that house."

Of course, all of this makes sense when one of the very few things I will pat myself on the back about is that I have a great memory and absorb things like crazy. I also have a bit of a photographic memory, which is cool.

 

[Finn]

I actually have vague memories of my half brother's 12th Birthday at my paternal grandparents in Florida. It was about two months before my second birthday. But anyway, I also am good at remembering people's birthdays.

 

[Kira's Mom]

I have pretty clear memories from age four and up. Unfortunately, a lot of them were health related. I spent a lot of time at doctor's offices and had a few hospital stays.

My earliest memory was of taking a tumble down the stairs. My mom said I was two and a half at the time.