Can you remember scenes from your early childhood?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (208270)
Walnut Creek, California
November 4, 2015 12:46pm CST
This post grew out of a conversation I was having with @LadyDuck a few minutes ago. She lives in Switzeraland, and I believe she lived in Italy before that. I lived in Italy for a year when I was only four, and I remember that we spent several weeks in Switzerland, though I can't remember why.
I was listening to a story during story time at what must have been a Swiss preschool, when I heard the word "cottage" in the story. I blurted out "Like cottage cheese?" and was scolded by the teacher for speaking out of turn. I remember feeling really sad, and wishing she had said something like, "Why yes! The words are the same, but the meaning is quite different." I hadn't meant to be "bad."
I think I recovered quickly, as 4-year-olds do, but I never forgot the moment, or how sad I felt when she scolded me.
In a similar (but not sad) isolated incident, I remember being in a combined first and second grade classroom in Berkeley CA. I was in first grade. The teacher asked the second graders if they knew how many feet were in a mile. None of them did, and so I raised my hand, even though I was only a first grader. She called on me, and I proudly said, "Five-thousand-two-hunderd-and-eighty." I was praised by my teacher for being so good at math, and was on cloud nine for the rest of the day.
The funny thing is, I remained convinced I was good at math for the rest of my school days, and always did well at math thereafter. As a College student, I made it through Calculus and Linear Algebra before finally stopping.
I think that our early experiences can have a profound effect on how we view ourselves and the world around us. But many of us can't remember our early experiences. I remember some vividly. Others (like third grade), I can't remember at all.
Can you remember your very early days? Do you remember isolated incidents, like mine? Or a continuous flow? Or nothing at all?
32 people like this
35 responses
@LadyDuck (461823)
• Switzerland
4 Nov 15
I was born in Italy and lived there until I was 22. We moved to France two years after I was married and then here, to Switzerland. I imagine that you know that a Swiss cottage (or chalet) is a log cabin. I can remember an isolated incident that made me very sad. I was about 8 years old, I went to a private school run my nuns. In our class, one of our friend was not fully normal. She liked me very much and I tried to help her to socialize. Sometimes we sit together talking while the others were playing. One of the nun rudely told us that "normal girls" do not stay alone together. I did not even understood at that time, but later this made me think a lot about nuns and religion.
8 people like this
@LadyDuck (461823)
• Switzerland
5 Nov 15
@TheHorse I think that they were not compassionate but most of all they thought that girls should sit alone together. I read the Italian newspapers (online) every day, you cannot imagine what's going on right now with the Vatican and a Friar Order. It's more fascinating than a novel, the problem is that it's real, plots, blackmail, even bribes to sell beatifications. I believe it because I was in that nuns school for 8 long years.
5 people like this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Nov 15
@LadyDuck It seems the Catholic Church is in disarray right now. There a lot of like about Christianity in general, and I even like some ritual, but I don't like the notion that kids/humans are inherently evil and have to have good "beat into them." (I think of nuns with rulers slapping piano students' hands.) Nor do I like to hear of corruption in any institution, especially a religious one.
5 people like this
@carexing25 (1818)
• Philippines
5 Nov 15
right there were stories that mix up with our random memories from childhood and sometimes we get confused if those are just stories or part of the reality
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Nov 15
I do remember some isolated incidents from a very early age. There is one image in my mind from when I wore a cavalry outfit at a party, which would have been while I was approximately 5 years old.
I can remember one teacher from my junior school and even several incidents that stuck in my mind, yet would be unable to recall many later events.
4 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
4 Nov 15
I can remember some incidents in my life before the age of four, one was my brother and I crossing the highway and playing in what looked like an underground bunker pretending we were shooting bad guys (cars) as they passed. Then the time we were out in the field and it started raining, we rain and I lost one shoe and started crying and I thought I was in quicksand.
Then I remember the neighbor next door and their great dane that I called a horse and would climb on him and ride him, they thought that was cute. Then when my brother would go and try to catch minnows in the river and I was with him there was a little person who used to go there also and I couldn't understand why he was so littl, he was a midget. Then there were the times we were taken to my grandparents house to be watched.
5 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
11 Nov 15
@TheHorse I think history also draws some strange conclusions about who won!
2 people like this
@marguicha (216910)
• Chile
4 Nov 15
I remember a lot of my very early childhood. So much that my younger sister and my mother called me many times as a judge of a controversy about how things had happened
Lately, as memory goes, I forget many things that have just happened. But those early childhood memories are still there
Lately, as memory goes, I forget many things that have just happened. But those early childhood memories are still there4 people like this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Nov 15
@marguicha They say that happens often! I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, but I remember exactly where I was sitting and what I was thinking in both the "cottage incident" and the "5280 feet in a mile incident."
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10143)
• United States
4 Nov 15
I have a few scattered memories. Flying kites at the park, riding my bike around with the neighborhood kids, watching the whale perform at Sea World... that sort of thing.
The majority of it is a complete blank, though. Apparently that's pretty common in abused kids. I used to just think that my memory was bad because I never seemed able to recall as much as my friends could.
3 people like this
@allknowing (130518)
• India
5 Nov 15
There are so many little happenings in my life that are vivid in my memory. My boldness stands out. It was my first day at school. Everyone was crying but I did not. Then barely a few days later my teacher spotted a book and asked the class whose book it was. I realised it was mine. I boldly stood up and said 'I book'
2 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
5 Nov 15
I remember the odd moments, my earliest moment I believe was when I was about four.
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
11 Nov 15
@TheHorse I hope they are all good ones. I hate to have bad memories stirred once I have put them to sleep.
1 person likes this
@Sheilamarie78 (2586)
• Canada
13 Jan 16
I remember lots of things from my early years. You are right that other people's expectations, criticisms, and encouragement can have a major effect on how we think of ourselves.
2 people like this
@Sheilamarie78 (2586)
• Canada
19 Jan 16
@TheHorse That seems to be the case. What kind of work do you do? I was a teacher for a while and a parent educator.
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
14 Jan 16
Hmmm... Interesting, pony! And quite possibly correct, too.
What I remember from my early childhood depends on what subject we are discussing. If we are talking about how much do I remember from my early school experiences, not a lot. Random happenings and odd incidents stand out and are much easier to remember.
If we are talking about growing up on our farm, pretty much a continuous memory....
If we are talking about specific incidents, it depends on who was also involved in those incidents and what their reaction was to whatever happened.
Yeah, my meds can make me fuzz out on a lot of things I say or do now, but even when using my meds, I can and have described scenes and conversations from back then with surprising clarity.
I like to think I have a good memory... Several people tried to tell me and make me believe I don't, but when that happens, I agree with them that I must be mistaken and keep written records of anything we say/do after that. (Those written records have come in very handy several times when disputing something that person (those people) have said later. I LIKE idiots!) (grinning to beat the band!)
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
17 Jan 16
@TheHorse Do you/Can you remember the emotions you felt at the time and by remembering those emotions, does it help clarify your memory of the event, or does it cloud that memory?
Hmmm... I believe we are engaged in psychoanalyzing each other on this discussion.
I don't know about you, but I am finding this discussion refreshing and interesting at the same time. I am curious as to your thoughts here, if you are willing to share? Uhm... maybe not on the open forum, though.
You are welcome to pm me and continue this discussion there, or we can drop it. Your choice, pony.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jan 16
@DaddyEvil I'm OK with saying on this public forum that the emotions help clarify the memory. I remember what I was worried about at the time, and who I felt "safe" with. Do you also find that the emotional component helps clarify memories?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Jan 16
What we are discussing (in the present)--that makes sense. What I find interesting (about myself) is that early memories of being misunderstood are salient. Not misunderstood in general, but having something I said or did be misunderstood.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
14 Jan 16
@TheHorse Hmmm... again, interesting...
My daughter claims I have a perfect memory for emotions. Whatever I felt when something happened, I start feeling again when I relate the incident(s) to others, unless I make a specific effort to break the emotions away from the incident(s).
3 people like this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Jan 16
@DaddyEvil I think some people remember their own emotions associated with past events more than others do. Interesting thought about re-experiencing those emotions. Is it something that happens in the present that brings them up?
3 people like this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
5 Nov 15
I only remember the odd thing from being really small, I can remember being in nursery and it having a big wire fence between our playground and the main school and I can remember looking through it
2 people like this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
6 Nov 15
Not really, I think I was just curios about the other children.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Nov 15
@Dragonairy1 Weird (I must be). I must have always been a bit "in my head." Seems like I can usually remember what I was thinking in these old memories.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
5 Nov 15
I remember so much of my early childhood days. Sometimes I am not sure if it is because I have heard people talking about it or if I really remember it. I remember the place I lived in before starting grammar school at age 5. I can remember the back yard and some of my friends from there. I can see the whole apartment and the layout of the rooms and how hot it was in the summer. We didn't have air conditioning back 68 years ago.
I remember walking to a park with one of my friends after school and my mom had the police out looking for me. I was sent to my room without dinner but later on mom brought me in a grilled cheese sandwich.
It is funny why we remember some things and not others. And, how come we can remember so many things from long ago but not where I put the keys or any other recent things?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
17 Jan 16
Hmmm.... @ramapo17 , that was an interesting memory to relate, especially to pony! You know he is figuring out all kinds of things from what we say to him, right? LOL!
Naw! I'm just kidding, I think? 
Hmmm... Hey, @TheHorse pony? Are you figuring out things about people who respond to your posts, or are you simply learning about them, sort of, like I do?
Either answer will tell me something about YOU, you know!? 
Naw! I'm just kidding, I think? Hmmm... Hey, @TheHorse pony? Are you figuring out things about people who respond to your posts, or are you simply learning about them, sort of, like I do?
Either answer will tell me something about YOU, you know!? 1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
17 Jan 16
@DaddyEvil I am not really an easy person to figure out in fact sometimes I cannot figure myself out. You should understand that by now.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (99272)
• India
18 Jan 16
I do believe that what we experience as a child remains with us for the rest of our lives. It is easy to say children forget. Not everything. And that cottage thing was mean because honestly, until you wrote it here, I thought some cheese that used to be made in some cottage and got its name from there is now manufactured in large factories. You made me realize everything should not be taken at face value. And appreciation for math and consequent interest in the subject is also absolutely sequential reaction. :) I remember releasing some balloons in the air in the name of a few people. My mom's name was not in it, but the lady who was the other woman in my mom's life found a place much against the advice of elders. When you are young, you don't understand. That lady used to pamper me rotten back then and when her marriage with papa didn't materialize, she made her brother molest me.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32529)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Jan 16
I remember a lot of memories from the age 3! I remember sleeping in a crib. I remember how the neighbors say i am the cutest baby. I also remember how sad I was when my family decided to move to a new city. I also remember how I prefer my nanny over my mom.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Jan 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker I take it your mom was a bit of a grouch even when you were young.
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
17 Jan 16
I am not sure knowing the number of feet in a mile equates to being good at maths, it is more being good at facts, the type of fact that I used to remember when I was a child - I knew all the feet, yards, miles, furlongs, ounces, pounds, stones, fluid ounces, pints, quarts, gallons etc. and always did very well in general quizzes. I even learnt the metric conversions when that system came along.
In my view it is not maths, it does require comfort with numbers, that some people do not have. That said to be good at maths you need to be comfortable with numbers.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Jan 16
Correct. The point is: it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. I believed I was good at math, even though I'd really only remembered a fact my parents must have been discussing. In my 6-year-old brain, I was convinced I was good at math, and that led me to care about math. I never got lower than in A in math after that, until Calculus 2 in college (I was mortified, but I deserved the B I got).
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36684)
• Toccoa, Georgia
5 Nov 15
Oh yes, I do have memories of 5th grade and what a rotten school year that was for me. My teacher truly did not like me and let me know it.
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@LeaPea2417 (36684)
• Toccoa, Georgia
7 Nov 15
@TheHorse I am not sure exactly maybe it was because I was extremely shy. Maybe she thought I was not outgoing enough.
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Nov 15
@LeaPea2417 Yikes! That's not a reason to be mean to a kid! I want to help her reach out more.
@TheHorse (208270)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Nov 15
@JudyEv We had a TV when I was a kid. I think we were allowed "one program a day" or something like that. Our parents thought TV would turn us into blithering idiots, much as today's adults worry about the effects of chronic video gaming.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328037)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Nov 15
@TheHorse I remember clambering over some floor joists when Dad was adding on to the house. I would have been around 3 too. I don't think my parents had TV until after we were married. The first thing we watched on our own TV was Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding. We were out in the sticks so couldn't get reception till long after most of the state.
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