First memories and children at weddings.

On NewsTalk650 the other morning, John Gormley was discussing inviting children to weddings. Some callers said that it’s good to include children in wedding celebrations but I think the question of how much they’ll actually remember is a valid one. The adults in attendance will certainly remember out-of-control children especially if the ceremony is interrupted. One caller said that he remembers going to weddings as a child and being incredibly bored. John then briefly mentioned his earliest memories as a child. That’s a more interesting topic to me.

As parents, we want to give our children “wow” experiences like Disney World but does it do any good to take them when they are very young? We took our kids to Disney and I freely admit that it was a dumb decision. They only remember it vaguely if at all and my strongest memories are the heat and the long lines. What a huge waste of money. I advise anyone who asks to wait until the kids are old enough to participate fully and really enjoy the experience.

Based on information from my parents, my earliest memory is from when I was just about 18 months old. All I remember is sitting in the front seat of a vehicle with my black patent leather shoes pointing straight out in front of me. That’s it. My next specific memory might be from when I was almost five and learning to ride a bike. In between those two points, I was in a wedding. I’ve seen photos but I have absolutely no memory of it. None.

So, don’t take small children to weddings for their benefit. They usually don’t care and won’t remember.