- Jul 26, 2010
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I want to make something very clear - I'm not talking about stories that you told them, things that you gave them words for or things you retold stories about again and again. Something they felt and experienced themselves - and remembered all on their own - without anyone reminding or telling.
I'm writing a story about a child's memories, and I got very curious about parent's experiences.
I mean something they've seen as little ones - and then recognize again years later, something they felt back then and then clearly recalled - to your surprise. Let me give an example of what I mean. Sorry I haven't a simpler one, but this one is true so it will have to do.
My friend's son, when he was 2 and only speaking a few words, went on a train journey with my sister and me - we were sort of like aunties to him. Our job was to take him to his granma's for the summer by train, while his parents went on a 'grown up vacation'. What happened on that train journey, we never got a chance to share with his parents as they had to rush off to a family event and we went our separate ways - for 20 years.
So we are very, very sure she did not (and in fact nor anyone else) ever repeated this story to him or talked to him about it.
And yet, 20 years later, I saw him. I said, 'you and I went on a train journey when you were two'. And he said, 'Yes, and the first time I got a glimpse of you, I thought you were my mom because of your long black hair, and grabbed your hair and I yelled out, 'Mommy!' Then he proceeded to give a bunch of details about the trip that I am very sure no one ever reminding him of or gave him words to say about.
Of course in the story, what the hero will remember will be much more important in the story. But this idea fascinated me, that an adult would recall, on his own, such rich details from such a small event that he experienced himself, so long ago in his early life.
So what do you think? Have your children surprised you by remembering something from their early past. What was it?
I'm writing a story about a child's memories, and I got very curious about parent's experiences.
I mean something they've seen as little ones - and then recognize again years later, something they felt back then and then clearly recalled - to your surprise. Let me give an example of what I mean. Sorry I haven't a simpler one, but this one is true so it will have to do.
My friend's son, when he was 2 and only speaking a few words, went on a train journey with my sister and me - we were sort of like aunties to him. Our job was to take him to his granma's for the summer by train, while his parents went on a 'grown up vacation'. What happened on that train journey, we never got a chance to share with his parents as they had to rush off to a family event and we went our separate ways - for 20 years.
So we are very, very sure she did not (and in fact nor anyone else) ever repeated this story to him or talked to him about it.
And yet, 20 years later, I saw him. I said, 'you and I went on a train journey when you were two'. And he said, 'Yes, and the first time I got a glimpse of you, I thought you were my mom because of your long black hair, and grabbed your hair and I yelled out, 'Mommy!' Then he proceeded to give a bunch of details about the trip that I am very sure no one ever reminding him of or gave him words to say about.
Of course in the story, what the hero will remember will be much more important in the story. But this idea fascinated me, that an adult would recall, on his own, such rich details from such a small event that he experienced himself, so long ago in his early life.
So what do you think? Have your children surprised you by remembering something from their early past. What was it?
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