Baby's First Moments - Who Remembers?
Quick: Which one is more memorable -- Your child's first day of kindergarten or Princess Diana's crash? If we are to believe a new study out of the U.K., people have stronger, clearer memories of major news events than personal memories. A full 82 percent of those surveyed could recall the events of 9-11 in detail, while only 65 percent could picture their first child's birth as clearly.
Just 50 percent could remember their child's first birthday, leading me to wonder: Were 50 percent of the respondents men?
On the one hand, these results are a no-brainer. OJ's terrifying car chase was played and replayed mercilessly on the airwaves, seen by millions, talked about by everyone, nonstop. Whereas my first child's birth wasn't even videotaped. Still, I feel like I remember most of it in pretty vivid color.
I can't speak for the moms surveyed, but I attribute the hazy parts to being fairly exhausted during and post-birth. I understand sleep-deprivation can affect memory, hence the scientific term "momnesia."
My children's first birthday? I remember the first one's first birthday more clearly than the second one's first birthday (I feel very guilty about this, little Prince). This may have something to do with the fact that my son's first birthday was, in fact, better documented and the videos more widely distributed than those of most major world events. Or maybe I just need to believe that I have more details in my head about his tiny fist pounding the red-velvet cake than I do about Joey Buttafuoco. Or Enron.
To me it's all about the pictures. What pictures are we looking at most often and what feelings do they evoke? I am inspired. It's time to start pulling my digital pictures out of the computer and paste them into bound photo albums. This way, we can pack our brains with more joyful family stories.
Do you have more vivid memories of major news events or those special moments from your own personal family history?
Sabrina Weill is editor-in-chief of PrincessLovesPink.com
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jenni 3-05-2009 @ 3:09PM
I remember life events in reference to major news events. So, maybe I would have to agree with this survey. I will typically remember something as, "remember his birthday party at the park, it was about that same time of the OJ verdict." It's more of a point of reference really. I think it depends on how much you invest yourself into those news stories as well.
On a side note, I seriously hope you made that comment about 50% or the respondants being male in jest. My husband, and many of the men in my life, are much more sentimental about these things than I am and I find they actually hold these things more than we do and, often, more than they admit to the public world. I really hate man bashing.
Reply
Sabrina 3-05-2009 @ 3:15PM
It was in jest :) no bashing intended--my husband is amazing at remembering all events as well and we always kid about how he's way more romantic than me... but a girlfriend made this joke when I was talking with her about the study and I thought it was a funny note.
Jenni 3-05-2009 @ 3:39PM
Thanks for clarifying; I did read it as jest, but then I hear so many people bashing men (including their own husbands) that it breaks my heart for them. Thank you for clarifying.