I had a dream about this last night, actually, and memories I hadn't thought of for years came back to me. I don't put a ton of stock in dreams, but these were real memories, not figments of my own imagination during sleep. Anyways, it got me wondering about others first memories, and curious as to what end of the spectrum it fell on. Is it a pleasant memory, or is it a mundane one? Is it an unpleasant memory, or one of childhood innocence? What does it stir up inside of you? For me, it's an interesting one, as it's a touching one, and certainly pleasant. Yet, it's one I haven't even thought of in years, and it has me wondering why.
I was around 3 and a 1/2 years old, and my parents sat me and my twin sister down. They explained a lot of things that day, with two of them having a lasting impact on my life to this day. Undeniably, my young brain was unable to process the signifcance of both events, and how they would impact me to this day. All I knew at that time was excitement, and as I look back, one of the most eventful moments of my life.
As my parents sat us down, they informed us of two things: The first was the fact that we had been adopted. My parents, unable to have children, had decided to adopt. They didn't tell us then about the details, as those were saved for years later. All we were told is that we had a young mommy who loved us very much, but didn't have the money to raise us on her own. So we were given to our parents. Obviously, it was much more than simply this, but some context here: We were 3 and a 1/2 years old.
Being adopted, my parents then informed us of something else, more important than us being adopted. We were getting a little sister. While I'm sure we didn't understand the significance of it at the time, one would have thought it to be Christmas Day, and we had received the present we had always dreamed of. Of course, in my lower middle-class family, it meant less presents on Christmas Day, but again, 3 and a 1/2 year old brain here. And as it turns out, it was better than any Christmas present I could ever imagine.
As for the long-reaching consequences, that day has perhaps had a bigger impact on my life than any. I've heard of the stories of children of adoption searching for their biologicals, but for me, there's never been a desire. As far as I'm concerned, my adoptive parents are my real parents. I harbor no resentment towards my biological's, but they're not the ones who raised me. Why should such a silly thing as DNA matter?
As for the adoption of my sister, I couldn't ask for a better present to this day. For the life of me, when I became old enough to understand, I cannot fathom why my parents would want to adopt again, especially after getting twins. Ones who were a handful at that! But they wanted three children, so three children they got. My little sister's biological parents background was far more known: They had been part of one of the largest bank-robbing gangs on the East Coast in the 80's, and to my knowledge, they're still in prison, which is where my little sister was born. SHe's never met them either, but my parents did, standard procedure for adoptions. Criminals or not, the biological's approval is generally required of the adoptive's, and this was no different. Thankfully, in both cases , approval was given. In the case of my little sister, I got not just a sister, but as we became adults, a close friend and confidante both. I'm four years estranged from my twin sister, which gives me even a greater appreciation for my younger sister. She's the only sibling I have a relationship with.
What's your first/favorite childhood memory?
Of what impact did/does it have on your life?
This thread could go in 1546 directions, so the spam rules here are lax. Just discuss this as you remember it, if comfortable, and how it affected your life.
I was around 3 and a 1/2 years old, and my parents sat me and my twin sister down. They explained a lot of things that day, with two of them having a lasting impact on my life to this day. Undeniably, my young brain was unable to process the signifcance of both events, and how they would impact me to this day. All I knew at that time was excitement, and as I look back, one of the most eventful moments of my life.
As my parents sat us down, they informed us of two things: The first was the fact that we had been adopted. My parents, unable to have children, had decided to adopt. They didn't tell us then about the details, as those were saved for years later. All we were told is that we had a young mommy who loved us very much, but didn't have the money to raise us on her own. So we were given to our parents. Obviously, it was much more than simply this, but some context here: We were 3 and a 1/2 years old.
Being adopted, my parents then informed us of something else, more important than us being adopted. We were getting a little sister. While I'm sure we didn't understand the significance of it at the time, one would have thought it to be Christmas Day, and we had received the present we had always dreamed of. Of course, in my lower middle-class family, it meant less presents on Christmas Day, but again, 3 and a 1/2 year old brain here. And as it turns out, it was better than any Christmas present I could ever imagine.
As for the long-reaching consequences, that day has perhaps had a bigger impact on my life than any. I've heard of the stories of children of adoption searching for their biologicals, but for me, there's never been a desire. As far as I'm concerned, my adoptive parents are my real parents. I harbor no resentment towards my biological's, but they're not the ones who raised me. Why should such a silly thing as DNA matter?
As for the adoption of my sister, I couldn't ask for a better present to this day. For the life of me, when I became old enough to understand, I cannot fathom why my parents would want to adopt again, especially after getting twins. Ones who were a handful at that! But they wanted three children, so three children they got. My little sister's biological parents background was far more known: They had been part of one of the largest bank-robbing gangs on the East Coast in the 80's, and to my knowledge, they're still in prison, which is where my little sister was born. SHe's never met them either, but my parents did, standard procedure for adoptions. Criminals or not, the biological's approval is generally required of the adoptive's, and this was no different. Thankfully, in both cases , approval was given. In the case of my little sister, I got not just a sister, but as we became adults, a close friend and confidante both. I'm four years estranged from my twin sister, which gives me even a greater appreciation for my younger sister. She's the only sibling I have a relationship with.
What's your first/favorite childhood memory?
Of what impact did/does it have on your life?
This thread could go in 1546 directions, so the spam rules here are lax. Just discuss this as you remember it, if comfortable, and how it affected your life.