I’d like to think that I’ve got quite a good memory, I remember song lyrics from 25 years ago without a problem, remember funny moments with friends and much more. But whenever I think about my earliest memory I struggle a bit. That’s todays prompt from the WordPress #bloganuary challenge.

A memory or a story

Do you ever try and think about an early memory only to wonder if it was indeed a memory of your own, or an induced memory from a photograph or story your parents may have told you. This is why I struggle to pinpoint my earliest memory.

My dad has told me many times about our trip to France when I was 3 or 4 and I’ve seen the photos multiple times, yet I’m pretty sure no memories of my own pop into my head.

I asked my 5 year old son Robin what his earliest memory was, he just shrugged and went back to his Pokémon cards, but it got me thinking about his earliest memory. There are two memories from when he was between 1.5 – 2.5 years old that I can recall.

1. He remembers where a friend of ours used to live, we drive past it every day and I remember when he was 2 mentioning our friends used to live in these flats. Thing is they hadn’t lived there since Robin was 1 and a half so I was quite impressed he had a memory so young.

2. He remembers when we went out for a birthday meal for his Nana when he was 2.5 years old and still brings it up when we drive past the venue to this day.

Both memories I imagine will fade as he makes more and more memories each day.

But what about me?

My earliest memories….too many to pick just one

I have bits and pieces of memories from probably being 5 or under. From visiting friends houses and playing, to being forced to eat my peas at school when having school dinners. From our new cat hiding under the fridge when he got him when I was 3, to being at a neighbours party and dancing to “Blame it on the boogie” by Mick Jackson with other kids.

There were a lot of kids in the cul-de-sac I lived in and we used to all play together in the street. I remember one day being scared of an old ruined house on the edge of a crop field near my house and going with friends to investigate (and then getting into trouble!)

I also remember waking up in our first house absolutely terrified and frozen by fear as I thought ghosts were in my room. I hid under my covers and was too scared to scream. I can’t remember what happened in the end but I still remember the feeling…

Moving house

When I first sat down and started thinking about this prompt I instantly thought about when I was 6 (almost 7). We moved house, to what felt like a million miles away (probably more like 15 miles). But it meant saying goodbye to the friends I’d known all my life and moving to a new school. Maybe the fact it was such a big change is the reason it has stuck with me.

I remember being in my bedroom in my old house, everything except the bunk beds had been packed up and we were saying goodbye. I remember knocking on my friend’s house and saying our goodbyes before jumping in the car and heading for pastures new. I don’t quite remember rolling up to the house and seeing my new room for the first time, but I do remember my first day at my new school quite clearly.

No doubt if I sit here for long enough more and more things will come to me. I now have an urge to go and find all my old diaries. If one of the prompt is share one memory you have as a teen I’ll be set 😂

I didn’t have much in the way of old photos to share for this blog ( they are all in the loft), but I found a few. Here is my mum and I celebrating The National Day of Norway (Constitution Day) on May 17th. My mum is dressed in her traditional Norwegian dress, the Bunad. Take a look at the blog header image for the devil child tea party. Love my full fringe ❤️

Camilla-Erika