What is your earliest memory?
September 24th, 2008
Last week when I was preparing the Beachcombers Spareribs post and reminiscing on my early childhood, I realized that I was about the same age then as my daughter is now. I was 5 years old when we lived in that shack, and my daughter just turned 5 last week. I have many great memories of our brief time there and I often wonder what my kids will remember of their childhood. Will they remember the picnics we took them on and the camping trips with their friends at the beach? Or will it be the screaming tirades over the messes they left around the house and mommy passed out on the sofa all morning cause she was blogging on her laptop all night…sorry, did I say that out loud?
My earliest concrete memories go as far back as preschool - so that’s what, 3 years old? I remember most of my preschool teachers and some of the friends I had there. I remember always getting in trouble for talking too much in class and socializing with friends - something that continued well into the remainder of my educational career (I can already see that trait in my daughter coming out). I also have fuzzy recollections of my babysitter before I went to preschool, just flashes here and there of eating lunch in her kitchen and going on outings to the market with her. But are those memories of my sitter real or are they figments of my imagination? I couldn’t have been more than 2 at that time, but they are vivid. Maybe I’ve played it over and over in my head enough to make it seem real, but I guess I’ll never know for sure.
Now that I’m a parent I find it fascinating that I can recall things that happened so long ago because it’s weird to think that I am in the process of creating memories that will still be with my children 30 or 40 years from now. It’s a wonderful, yet a bit unnerving thought! Will they remember my many mistakes or will they just remember how much they were loved and adored by two busy, distracted parents?
So now that I’ve shared my memories, I’d love to know what yours are. What is your earliest memory? And even if you’re a reader that “lurks” but never comments, please feel free to share. I’m really curious to hear what everyone has to say on this!
17 Responses to “What is your earliest memory?”
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk September 24th, 2008 at 4:27 am #
My earliest memory is of visiting my baby brother in hospital, so I would have been about 2½.
I have the same thoughts as you on what my two will recall when they are older. My solution is to take as many photos as I can as I think it really helps to have a visual aid to jog your memory.
Even now Dan, who is nearly 6, remembers when he had chicken pox 9 (at 4) because he has pictures of his ‘lurgie’ covered body!
Great post Kellie. Has made me think more on this and may have to pinch your idea and write something myself - linking back to the original brilliant idea, of course!
Adorable picture by the way. The stuff of memories . . .
Kel September 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am #
Earliest memories are playing with my dolls, playing ‘mommy’ dressup and teaching them things. It was before I was in school so I had to be 3 or 4. I may not have had the best childhood growing up, but honestly I really only remember the good memories from that time, maybe I was oblivious to all that was wrong when I was younger.
Have a great Wednesday!
~K
Amy @ The Q Family September 24th, 2008 at 6:59 am #
Earliest memory? hmm.. You are asking the person who can’t remember what she had for breakfast.
For me, I think my earliest memory I remember was when we lived at our first house so that will put me in kindergarten. We always played outside on the dirt and climbed the tree. We pretended to be the explorer and dug the dirt to find treasure.
I sure hoped that they will remember some of the stuff we did with them. I know that Mr. Z still talked about our cabin trip earlier this year. So that might be his earliest memory.
Sandy (Momisodes) September 24th, 2008 at 7:33 am #
I am constantly wondering if my daughter will start retaining some of the moments we’re having now that she’s 3. I have vague memories of when I was around 3. My family flew to Hong Kong, and I remember the tiny 1 bedroom apt we all squeezed into, dirty streets, and getting incredibly sick on the plane.
franticallysimple September 24th, 2008 at 8:00 am #
Interesting post. I think about this often too.
My earliest memory is the basement of the house we lived in when I was 2. But like you, I’m not sure if it is real. It seems like I was sliding on something. What, the laundry chute? Not likely… Though with four older brothers, I suppose I could have been pushed.
I also remember going to preschool at the local high-school. I loved fingerpainting with pudding and telling people I was in high-school.
Mama Zen September 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am #
My earliest memory is of the power going out during a massive thunderstorm. My mom made Jiffy popcorn on the gas stove . . . I think. I was 3, maybe.
Sharon September 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am #
I guess my earliest memory would be when I was a toddler — not yet in kdg. at least. We came home to find our cat had her kittens, and I was SOOO excited. I believe my earliest memories are ones accompanied by adrenaline …. by that, I mean I can recall the really exciting OR really scary memories. In kdg., my brothers “forgot” me at school and walked home without me — scary to be left behind! They eventually realized it and returned!
One Mom September 24th, 2008 at 9:10 am #
I think my first memories were from the age of 3 or 4…before we moved into the house we lived in for the rest of my growing up years…just little flashbacks of everyday life..falling off my bike in the driveway, our neighbor peeling a stalk of celery for me, napping “wide awake” in my parents bed….I can still see the big floral wallpaper!
We took our granddaughter to Disneyland when she was 4 and she says whe doesn’t remember a thing! I think it’s the little day to day moments that leave an impression, not necessarily the big events!
Great post!
Vered - MomGrind September 24th, 2008 at 11:03 am #
My earliest memory is watching TV for the first time! I was around 3 or 4 I think. I was absolutely amazed to see the characters moving on the screen. Like many kids, I was convinced that they were somehow hiding inside the TV box.
Asianmommy September 24th, 2008 at 1:22 pm #
I must’ve been 4 in preschool–I just have memories of doing projects and playing with my friends.
Angela September 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pm #
My earliest memory is around 3 or 4 years old when I was made to take naps. The babysitter would tell me if I napped the sand man would come and give me a candy bar.
koala brains September 24th, 2008 at 6:13 pm #
Oh, I like your post. I think of this, too, b/c my daughter is 3 and I have memories of being 2. My earliest memory was Christmas in Japan when I was 2, just before my 3rd bday. I got a boot stuffed with little toys and candy and I remember sticking my foot in it and walking around. I also got a Kamen Rider mask that I remember putting on my face.
My Asian Heritage/Angela September 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm #
this wasn’t my earliest memory, but one of the most vivid….in kindergarten, i was supposed to go for my very first swim lesson at the Y. But before we left, we had to get tested for lice. And lo and behold, who was the unlucky soul who seemed to have contracted someone else’s critters….ME. Who wasn’t able to go swimming, and who had to endure hours of house cleaning and sitting in the bathtub while my poor mother combed every last bit of crap outta my hair?? Me. That really sucked.
BusyMamas September 25th, 2008 at 2:29 am #
Thanks everyone for sharing! It was so much fun to hear your early memories. The common age seems to be 3-4 years old. So I guess I have a few more months before I have to worry about scarring my son for life. With my daughter being 5 though I guess I’m outta luck!
Tara - “lurgie”? Your British expressions always crack me up!
Kel - Well it’s great that you have the good memories to hold on to, it would suck to only have the crappy ones!
Amy - Do your kids do a lot of outdoor stuff? Like you I remember playing outside all the time, but I don’t think many kids nowadays do. So sad!
Sandy - Well, if she doesn’t remember, you have lots of great photos of her to remind her! You gotta save her road runner for her!
Frantically Simple - LOL, with 4 brothers I’m sure you have LOTS of interesting memories! Some they probably wish you’d forget.
Mama Zen - The one with the foil top that puffed up? Talk about nostalgia!!
Sharon - That is a cool memory to have! I remember being forgotten at school too. My Dad forgot to pick me up from preschool and I had to sit on the steps in front of the school with the director until he finished surfing and came to get me!
One Mom - I agree, it’s all the mundane stuff that I remember too. I wonder why our brains choose certain trivial things to retain. Like what is the significance of peeling celery? So interesting.
Vered - Ahh, a girl after my own heart! TV was my best friend and I used to love watching Electric Company every day. I just found the series on Netflix and had to put it on the queue. For the kids of course. Not for me.
Asianmommy - The preschool memories are the strongest for me too. Did you guys used to do bomb attack drills and hide under the desks too? Or was that just Hawaii?
Angela - So did you actually get a candy bar or was it all a farce?
Koala Brains - Kamen Rider! I loved him and Ultra Man. And Kikaida. Jiro was hot.
MAH/Angela - Oh you poor thing! But hey, on the bright side you’ll always remember it. Not like you want to, but… oh, never mind. Any way you look at it, it sucks.
Jojo October 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm #
Is it weird that I have negative memories as my vivid ones? I so clearly remember my hair being shaved off for the first time (tradition) and being so devastated to go to kindergarten because I was embarrassed. I also remember a boy in my kindergarten who liked me and would come jump on my bed, yes the innocent kind of jump (Kellie, get your mind outta the gutter haha) during nap time.
BusyMamas October 6th, 2008 at 2:32 am #
Jojo - you know me so well…
The shaving tradition is so fascinating. Is it something done at 5 years of age? And how did your classmates react?
Jojo October 6th, 2008 at 6:50 pm #
Yes it’s tradition to shave off the “baby” hair of a child, for boys on an odd year usually 3 or 5, and for a girl at 2, or 4. My mom crocheted a hat for me with a little flower on it and when I wore it, I thought nobody would know…