ADVERTISEMENT

Ready to blush? Just kidding—nobody enjoys making their cheeks burn out of involuntary embarrassment in awkward situations. But this time, we are taking you on an emotional rollercoaster where it may be the only option.

It’s called blast from the past. Remember your 8-year-old self drinking coke in a wine glass, thinking you were as tipsy as auntie Becky at a family reunion barbecue, ready to pass out on the floor and beg for salvation? What about the time you cried for 10 days straight after finding out that gum you swallowed would stay in your stomach forever? What if I told you that you're not the only one? In fact, that little kid with ginger frock from school, your cousin from Wyoming, and I was all secretly doing the same weird things. So, let’s go down this cringe-inducing memory lane were things we all did as kids are laid out on the table.

Pandas, is anyone having a déjà vu moment? Then share your experiences and childhood memories in the comments. Also, scroll down below to see what Krystine Batcho, a professor of nostalgia at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, told Bored Panda about the influence that childhood experiences have on the course of our lives.

#1

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

emersonic420 Report

Prof. Krystine Batcho, a licensed psychologist and scholar in nostalgia, has developed a universal tool to measure our emotions towards the past using The Nostalgia Inventory Test. It measures how deeply and often people feel nostalgic.

Bored Panda asked the professor about the role our childhood memories play in our lives. “Childhood memories can influence adult lives in a number of ways. They can contribute to our overall sense of happiness in life.” Social experiences we had when little turn out to be crucial. “Positive childhood social events, such as family get-togethers during the holidays or parties to celebrate birthdays or achievements, help establish good self-esteem and healthy social skills in adulthood.”

Prof. Batcho’s life-long research has suggested that “positive childhood memories are associated with more adaptive coping skills in adulthood.” For example, people with happier memories of childhood were less likely to turn to counterproductive ways of dealing with stressful situations, such as substance abuse or escapist behavior. Healthy coping is not something we’re born with, but rather “is learned during childhood by role modeling trusted adults, and memories of how respected adults coped with adversity,” said the professor.

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

FahadKhreji , rudyright Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
What does a Foxxy say?
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to draw on my erasers and then stamp them on my skin whilst the pen ink was still wet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Most of us deeply cherish powerful childhood memories and carry them throughout our lives. Batcho explained that this phenomenon is called a “'rosy retrospection,' that is, a tendency to remember the past as better than it really was.” But there might be an evolutionary reason for it, because “a favorable focus on the past helps most people remain healthy and happy despite the practical and emotional challenges of adult life.”

On the other hand, one's current mood has a tremendous influence on memory retrieval. “When we are sad or depressed, we are more likely to remember negative events in our past and remember past experiences less favorably.” That’s why if you’re in a bad mood, it’s better to leave those blasts from the past for another time in order not to distort them.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#19

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

LHG02 Report

Add photo comments
POST
holly_wendelin avatar
Starbelly Eleven
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this at my parents' house and I snarl and hiss because my dad's office is right at the top and I know he's sitting there witnessing it. I'm 46.

skwatandost avatar
Aski Markup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

38 and still occasionally do this, (when no one's watching ofcourse).

freya_600 avatar
Freya Fluharty
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was me after I came out of hospital. My muscles had atrophied so much my Achillies heels had shrunk by inches. Had to 're-learn' how to walk. Going upstairs to the bathroom was just so much easier on all 4s!

comunikraze avatar
Miguel Ángel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's me at 45 playing "hunting cat" with my 7yo... good times.

k_a_shchetinina avatar
Kristina Shchetinina
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep.... 27 and this is how I climb stairs in my office or sometimes running up, thumping like an elephant.

bookied7 avatar
Arieana Mays
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean I only did that and pretend I was a dog but then I almost fell down the stairs

bluebellforawhile avatar
Bluebell Rizzi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this until one day I still managed to trip and dent my right shin XD

alex_17 avatar
Alex T
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still occasionally do this, but I did a lot more a few years ago

copper-fractions avatar
Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does anyone else hate these fake conversations, especially when it's nobody saying anything?

florapolvado avatar
Catlady6000
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. We all enjoy the nothingness of our lives. So glad yours is too full to participate

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

KingOfAthena Report

Add photo comments
POST
nesakysiukurtaueiti avatar
MagicalUnicorn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i always dreamed of having this one as kid, but mom said it was too expensive...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

hostinglaughs Report

Add photo comments
POST
bukola-adanna avatar
Bookey
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hated this!! And they'd ask "do you remember me"? How the flipping heck would I remember you?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

teaandlaughter Report

Add photo comments
POST
hendralim avatar
Hendra Lim
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i still feel so proud when i hide in the bathroom while the lights out, my cousins searching for me, even get in the bathroom but didn't find me at all because of the darkness and me silently dodging their hands movement, because i got adapted to the darkness)

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#28

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

Lightningmcmeth69 Report

Add photo comments
POST
maddi_050203 avatar
LOttawa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still do that when I go shopping with my teen. It's fun to innocently embarrass her.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

unknown Report

#32

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

villas3123 Report

Add photo comments
POST
kat_mat avatar
Danish Dynomummy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true. And the same snacks you had at home tasted 1000 times better at their place!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#39

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

90smadness Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
What does a Foxxy say?
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is such an old wives tale, so many people still believe this as adults. For those of you that do, it isn’t true.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

cumrascal Report

Add photo comments
POST
ilonazoomer avatar
Ilona
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did that once.. they cared. I ended up being so embarrassed about pretending to have drowned that I actually pretended to have drowned

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

blackwatchdoctor Report

Note: this post originally had 66 images. It’s been shortened to the top 41 images based on user votes.