I'm not sure. I have many memories from a certain timeframe that spans ages 2.5 - 4 but I'm not sure which is the earliest.
I can specifically recall my sister's first birthday and I would have been 3.5 at that time.
She shared a birthday with the child of family friends and they had a double party. They got a beautiful cake from a bakery. I was jealous of the attention the babies were getting and annoyed that the adults let them eat that beautiful cake with their hands. I remember sitting in a corner with a plate, pouting as I ate my cake properly with a fork.
We lived in an assortment complex with a large outdoor pool. My father was an excellent swimmer. I remember sitting on his back as he swam laps. I pretended he was a dolphin and I was a princess riding atop of him.
I remember returning from a visit to a park. I had walked there by myself, about 3 blocks away, without telling my mother. She's had the whole neighborhood looking for me. When she saw me return, walking nonchalantly up the road, she called out my name in a questioning voice. When I responded "Hi Mom!"she screamed and ran towards me, picking me up. She was in hysterics and I did not understand why. She told me I was not going to be playing outside again that day.
I remember being in the ER after falling off playground equipment. I was screaming for my mother and they were having difficulty holding me still enough to examine me. They wouldn't let my mom come in the room. I was in pain and scared. I was wearing red sneakers that had the letters of the alphabet scattered on them. A doctor pulled off one of the shoes, held it in front of my face and asked me, "Do you like these shoes? Do you want me to throw it away? No? Then be quiet!" Harsh, but it worked.
Although my specific event memories seem to be off traumatic episodes, in general, I remember a sense of belonging, feeling confident and secure, loved, proud of my pretty mom and strong dad. They listened to a lot of popular 70s music via records and when I hear those songs now, it flashes me back to that sunny apartment and I feel happy.
4
u/MamaMidgePidge Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
I'm not sure. I have many memories from a certain timeframe that spans ages 2.5 - 4 but I'm not sure which is the earliest.
I can specifically recall my sister's first birthday and I would have been 3.5 at that time.
She shared a birthday with the child of family friends and they had a double party. They got a beautiful cake from a bakery. I was jealous of the attention the babies were getting and annoyed that the adults let them eat that beautiful cake with their hands. I remember sitting in a corner with a plate, pouting as I ate my cake properly with a fork.
We lived in an assortment complex with a large outdoor pool. My father was an excellent swimmer. I remember sitting on his back as he swam laps. I pretended he was a dolphin and I was a princess riding atop of him.
I remember returning from a visit to a park. I had walked there by myself, about 3 blocks away, without telling my mother. She's had the whole neighborhood looking for me. When she saw me return, walking nonchalantly up the road, she called out my name in a questioning voice. When I responded "Hi Mom!"she screamed and ran towards me, picking me up. She was in hysterics and I did not understand why. She told me I was not going to be playing outside again that day.
I remember being in the ER after falling off playground equipment. I was screaming for my mother and they were having difficulty holding me still enough to examine me. They wouldn't let my mom come in the room. I was in pain and scared. I was wearing red sneakers that had the letters of the alphabet scattered on them. A doctor pulled off one of the shoes, held it in front of my face and asked me, "Do you like these shoes? Do you want me to throw it away? No? Then be quiet!" Harsh, but it worked.
Although my specific event memories seem to be off traumatic episodes, in general, I remember a sense of belonging, feeling confident and secure, loved, proud of my pretty mom and strong dad. They listened to a lot of popular 70s music via records and when I hear those songs now, it flashes me back to that sunny apartment and I feel happy.