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To be clear, I had no idea that various early memories were from my first year until I talked to my parents about them. The memories that have been dated to my
by ryao 2y ago
To be clear, I had no idea that various early memories were from my first year until I talked to my parents about them. The memories that have been dated to my first year are:
* The time in the room where newborn children are placed. The events here were witnessed by my grandparents and told to my parents.
* The remnant of my umbilical cord falling off my belly button at my aunt’s house. That really hurt.
* My baptism. I had misunderstood the water as a prelude to being drowned and was terrified that the deacon wanted to kill me.
I assume that there are more memories from my first year, but since they do not correspond to something others witnessed and remember, there is no way of dating them to that year.
In the case of the first two, I had asked my parents about them when I could talk and they realized that I was recalling very early memories. In the case of my baptism, my mother had decided to recount my baptism talking about happy she was that I had been the only well behaved child there (the Catholic Church often baptizes children in batches). Upon hearing that, I remembered the event and responded complaining that I had only been quiet because I thought if I had opened my mouth to cry, I would have been drowned to death soon afterward. What was a fond memory for her was a horrific memory for me.
- rightbyte 2y agoThe concept is interesting. I think the awareness of babies might be underestimated. > I had misunderstood the water as a prelude to being drowned and was terrified that the deacon wanted to kill me. Sounds like a rationalisation way later though? I don't think you could be aware of either concept at the time. Like, the fear of the priest as a stranger, or fear of the other babies screams from pouring water on their heads. Not the concept of drowning or killing.
- Feathercrown 2y agoIsn't drowning one of the few things that babies instinctually fear?
- ryao 2y agoIt was a deacon and I was not afraid of him. I was afraid of being drowned. I probably had some prior notion of drowning from being bathed by my mother. She was a very results oriented person that did not have any idea that the details of how you do things are important. It is almost certain that she accidentally got water in my nose at some point (possibly multiple times), which made me acutely aware of the notion of drowning. It is a memory that I likely elected to forget, although traces likely remained, which likely caused my fear during my baptism. Coincidentally, I have had a lifelong aversion to putting my head below water. It made learning to swim impossible.
- sakopov 2y agoMy goodness, this is fascinating! Thank you for sharing!