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.

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
#22

Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

AndyLeeman91 Report

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

At 27 I still cringe when I have to make a phonecall....

skatey1979 avatar
Celeste Grant
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We always write thank you notes when I was a child and it's something I still do now. I've often been teased for being from the wrong century (I'm 40, so not that old) but I thought everyone did it!

bastet_linda avatar
Linda Collier
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Call people?! I had to write thank you notes. They were checked for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

allisonwoodfill avatar
Allison Woodfill
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Husband calls his Mom and hands me the phone and says here you talk to her first.

cruzarts avatar
Steve Cruz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister and I sat down after birthdays and Christmas, and wrote Thank You notes, usually on cards we made. Our town was so small, we could write our friend's name on the envelope with "LOCAL" (no address or zip code), put a stamp on it, and it would be delivered.

laceneil avatar
Lace Neil
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You lucked out. My mum made me write thank you letters. Eight year old me: 😩

meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember the day my grandmother turned to my grandfather after he received (a very welcome) gift: "now what do we say?"

rfscego avatar
Rae Chester ️
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never been so thankful my mom just made me write thank you cards 😂

jaydenarias avatar
Jayden Arias
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you like oh sh#t no mom please dot make me say thank you to that hoe

marymaney avatar
Mary Maney
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm. I have to write handwritten letters i think my mom is still trying to get me to from my 9th bday. (I’m like 12)

tlilly avatar
Gracie Mae
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my phone had a 3 ft cord that stretched a good 6+ ft--but we actually had to write thank you letters

denisbrown avatar
Denis Brown
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Phone them? My mother made me write them thank you notes! The habit is ingrained. I still write them and send by post!

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.