this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2026
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Specifically, as in having memories from being younger than 3 years old and even further

I orient myself's own timeline upon some early-childhood memories, but some people have questioned it as false memory... which, understandable

But I can draw the layout of every house I've lived in, who's room was who's, where furniture was, certain events (like having gum melt in my diaper, crying in my crib about not trick-or-treating, seeing my first "flying-leaf" insect) and a lot of other random tidbits

A lot of it I've been able to confirm as true, which is what has always intrigued me. How far back is average? I think the furthest I can grasp is around 2 years old or maybe a little less

Maybe some of it has to do with trauma-ish things or something? But I can literally remember the potpourri on my mom's dresser when she was holding me, who was at my 3rd birthday... and just, kinda far back

What's everyone else's memory like here? I feel like my early pre-teens was kinda a blur, but my early childhood seems more vibrant sometimes. I dunno, I was just curious

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[–] early_riser@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

We lived in a small starter home until I was four. I have several memories from that house, including at least one birthday and Christmas, as well as my mom's birthday, I think.

My earliest memory, or at least what I count as my earliest memory, is being pushed around the block in a stroller. I specifically remember being fascinated by the fact that the sidewalk stopped mid-block, just a grass path for maybe 10 yards before the pavement started again near the corner. It was a disruption of expectations. The sidewalk is infinite, the sidewalk is unbroken, the sidewalk is eternal, and somehow it isn't. I miss those days when every day brought something new and unfathomable to my little mind.

UPDATE:

Some possibly earlier memories:

Being potty trained.

Going to McDonalds and bringing the food home.

Watching my brother or neighbor play the NES port of Burger Time, the very first video game I can remember, either that or Super Mario Bros.

Sneaking out of my room to eat salt straight from the shaker.

Some social worker visiting the house and having me pick up colored plastic circles from the floor. I think it was a vision test.

Hiding behind the couch when Sesame Street came on.

I also have misty dream-like impressions of the zeitgeist of the 80s, songs, TV shows, technology, etc. I think that's why I like synthwave and cassette futurism. It reminds me of those foggy early memories. Every now and then I'll run across the name of a show or a description of some early home computer and be like "Oh yeah, that really did exist and wasn't just the product of my little baby brain."