Earliest Childhood Memory

Do you remember what your earliest memory was? 

One day I was chatting with my husband, and the thought randomly popped into my head, and I asked him, "What is your first memory as a child?" We both tried to recall our first memory, rewinding years of memory to pinpoint where it all started. 

For me, it was hard to know which memory came first as there were a few that I vaguely remember about, such as the feeling of the cold marble floor and being in a car with my dad as he drove me to my aunt's house. Even recalling these memories, I couldn't know for sure if it was truly a memory or just me envisioning my experience as a child from the stories my parents have told about me. How I loved sleeping on the marble floor and how my dad used to bring me around in a basket. 

The experience of not being able to recall my first memory led to a mini freak out. I began to fear that my memories wouldn't stand the test of time because I didn't talk about it enough or document it. And so, I got into a rabbit hole of researching why it is so difficult for us to recall our childhood memories. 

It turns out that research has found that adults can't recall memories before the age of 3-4 due to a phenomenon called Childhood Amnesia. There are a few explanations researchers have concluded, but the one I think makes the most sense is that before the age of 3, our brains have not developed enough to store memories yet. Babies' brains are still developing significantly and only can store memories past the age of 3. So shockingly, if you remember memories before the age of 3, and especially if you do so ever so vividly, you've most probably fabricated it and convinced yourself that it was a childhood memory. How crazy is that? 

So now that I've found out that my childhood memories are a goner what about memories after that?

How do I make sure that they do stand the test of time?

It looks like we'll have to bring back studying techniques that help with memorization, such as writing it down, talking about it, and recalling. And so, from now onwards, my journal will also have to be a memoir, and you will also find me occasionally sharing random memories here and prompting myself to recall events.

Before I go, let me ask my first question to you again "Do you remember what your earliest fabricated memory was?"