Is it normal not to have memories before 12?

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4 Comments

Hello everyone.
This year, I'll turn 30. I have (save for a few flashes) no memories before 12 years old. I feel this may be due to the fact that my parents split up when I was 6 ( this is fairly commonplace) however, my mother did not work, play with my brother and I, make us proper food, help with homework or engage us in extra curricular activities. She just sat on the couch and watched TV. We had no friends, and were very poor living in a rich area.

I really have no idea how I spent my days.
But I remember once in grade 5 some neighbourhood kids ringing my doorbell after school around 4pm and I was already in my pajamas getting ready for bed.

My brother and I also almost completely stopped going to school from grade 5. Speaking of which I don't really remember having a brother, seeing him or talking to him

Is it really possible to have no memories like this? I try to lead a normal life now, but if someone asks what my childhood was like I don't know how to answer

Voting Results
32% Normal
Based on 38 votes (12 yes)
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Comments ( 4 )
  • galen
    7 years ago

    I don't know what to make of that. I knew a lady in her 70s who once remarked that she had no memories from before age 12. She seemed to take it for granted but I remember I was surprised and thought it was quite unusual.

    It sounds like your home conditions growing up were out of the ordinary, and I'm suspecting they had a lot to do with the absence of memories.

    FWIW I have clear and complete memories going back to age 3, and a few memories which family members have identified as being from when I was 2. That may be a bit earlier than average; I wonder what average age for earliest memories is.

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  • Couman
    7 years ago

    Kind of hard to say, it's definitely normal not to remember too much from when you were a child. Sounds like you remember less than average though.

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  • mysistersshadow
    7 years ago

    Maybe your really a robot.

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  • Azaman
    7 years ago

    Do you have a brother?

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