What is Your Earliest Memory?

Question

I’m writing a paper on early childhood memories and would like to collect anonymous first memories. Perhaps you are not sure if it is the first memory but it stands out in your memory, please go ahead and write about it.

Please try to follow these guidelines:

1. Be honest and give me a real memory.

2. Identify if you are sure it is your first memory or not.

3. Let me know as much detail as you can provide about the memory. Who, when, what, where, why. Don’t need to include people’s names.

4. Let me know the age of the memory as best you can estimate it.

5. Let me know if there were any strong emotions expressed by you or someone else in the memory.

6. Did the memory adversely or beneficially help you?

7. Please let me know your s*x and current age and highest level of education.

Answer 1

This is interesting as I have always thought that my first memory was running races with my cousins and remembering I was four years old. I somehow know that as a memory as a child. I don't really know if it was my first memory or not. I also remember waking up one morning and thinking " oh yeah my name is Pearl". I have no idea how old I was but I know I was very young. I don't think they really these memories helped me or hurt me. I do think that many of the interactions in my family changed many things in my future, not all good. A child works through things in order to protect herself or others. They take on a lot of guilt if it is forced on them. I do remember these things very early in my life. I am old, almost sixty, female and certified in early childhood. I have taken many classes and workshops. Several classes have been upper level college classes.

Answer 2

One of my first memories was when I was three or four. my brother , who was two years older, showed me how he could light a fire using a match. we were under my parents bed and I "told on him". My parents punished my brother and he still recalls the anger he felt towards me. i am a female, college graduate and over the age of 60

Answer 3

i was about two and playing on my couch with my mom and sesame street toys and watching my dad swim in the pool outside

Answer 4

1. my memories are jumbled, how can anyone say "I was 3 at this time, i know this because ___" i'm not sure many can do that.

2. i don't know which ones come first. i have memories but who is to say which one was before the other?

I'll do my best.

I remember going to Montana to visit my aunt (I know i was approxametally 3 because people tell me so) I remember we were in my g-pa's new truck, feeling as if we were going to fall off some sort of cliff. G-pa told me to quit kicking his seat...and I did it again and he yelled at me. My brother and I threw up in his new truck after (I think) eating at a McDonalds. I remember my mom giving me a potato sack. (the ones with holes in them) and being scared. The only other things I remember about Montana is something about snow...

i don't know if it helps to know this...it's not like it alters my life in any way.

i'm 18 and just graduated high school.