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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

Iván Galarraga
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, and also running with the finger ready to press the living room lights

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    #2

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    aimfromproland 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.”

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    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.

    #4

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    FahadKhreji , rudyright Report

    What does a Foxxy say?
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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.

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    #5

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    sssniperwolf Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Try out anything. Never be stopped!

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    #6

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    HonorTheGift Report

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    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.

    #7

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    RavenClaw568 Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagination is a gift, loosing it is a tragedy.

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    #8

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    90smadness Report

    European other
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    True how things have changed although I see a lot of kids on bikes

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    #9

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    DatElonMusketeer Report

    #10

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Coffee County Manchester Public Library Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unless you live in a country where Mac and Cheese aren't a thing.

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    #11

    40 Things We All Did Or Experienced As Kids But Never Talked About Since Then

    opbede Report

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    #13

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Alt_Keili Report

    #14

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    nostalgia Report

    Tee
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I still do this. Idk why but hey to each its own.

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    #15

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Tommy9111 Report

    Luna Lovegood
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and mom got freaked out and told you not to...

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    #17

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Report

    #18

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Memedics Report

    #19

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    LHG02 Report

    Starbelly Eleven
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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.

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    #20

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    KingOfAthena Report

    MagicalUnicorn
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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...

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    #21

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    fabelarde Report

    Hendra Lim
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it happened once, and it's scary as f*ck

    Keilyn Hiilei
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ikr and your like alright time to hide in the bathroom

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    Jennifer Hughes
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I went to my friend's house for an afternoon of playing video games. His parents got into it, and I had NEVER seen parents get into a fight like that. Scared me something awful and I called on their phone without permission to have my dad come get me. Friend's dad then hauled off on me (9 years old) for touching the phone and said I was never coming back to their house again. Pretty sure he wanted to hit me. I was never so glad to get out of a house before that point.

    Monday
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I ever have kids this is one thing I want to avoid...no sense in embarrassing the poor friend that didn't do anything wrong

    Magpie
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Best sentence I ever heard about parenting: We will talk about this a bit later, when everyone has calmed down. ( optional : including me )

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    Sera the Dragon
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I also heard my stepsister’s parents fight. Terrifying.

    Teca Guimarães
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once I was on an elevator with my friend and his family. His sister said something or was behaving bad, I dont remember, what I do remember is the slap her mother gave on her face. Gee...it was intense! You could cut the air XD

    Rosie Hamilton
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The expression on this boy's face is fantastic!

    MΣMΣ KIПG
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That happed last year lol he went out without his coat

    Razetime
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    my friend got yelled at all the time and it was really awkward

    Catlady6000
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Worse yet, their parents fighting. Do I stay and play, do I go, are we going to play?

    Alex T
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm usually the one being yelled at, and my friend looking terrified in the corner

    Caitlin M. Maguire
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My best friend's parents used to do it in Punjabi..I never knew what they were saying.

    Kamry fullden
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was at my besties house, nothing really scares me, an I have a high pain tolerance but that experience was scary enough for me to hide with the monster under the bed. Worst; it was a sleepover so it was dark and we had the dvd on.

    Jaiden
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My friends mom didn't play no mf'in games, I got yelled at too.

    Jayden Arias
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it's so scary you feel like you next

    Michelle Clark
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or when their parents got mad at you😨

    Marianthi Stathakopoulou
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What do I do? What do I do? Just stand still, you heard nothin’, you didn’t see nothin’!

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    #22

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    AndyLeeman91 Report

    Monday
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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    #23

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    hostinglaughs Report

    Bookey
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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?

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    #25

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    GlipGlopKing28 Report

    Danish Dynomummy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also as an adult watching your kid play on those!

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    #26

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    teaandlaughter Report

    Hendra Lim
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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)

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    #28

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Lightningmcmeth69 Report

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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.

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    #31

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    unknown Report

    Lucinda A. Tanji
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We were told not to do that because apparently the janitors clean the walls

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    #32

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    villas3123 Report

    Danish Dynomummy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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!

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    #33

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Report

    #34

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    FuckingGratitude Report

    Samantha Lomb
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    " Hey, I'm watching that"- goes right back to sleep

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    #35

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Superkip_ Report

    European other
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do this as a grown up if I find an interesting pen !

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    #36

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Report

    Sterling Wible
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would do every flavor it took so long but it tasted bad.

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    #37

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Briain-Fahy Report

    #38

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Flame_Draconic Report

    #39

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    90smadness Report

    What does a Foxxy say?
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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.

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    #40

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    cumrascal Report

    Ilona
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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

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    #41

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    blackwatchdoctor Report

    What does a Foxxy say?
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to write BOOBLESS, BOOBIES and HELLO on my calculator lol.

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    #42

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    CTHAWK32 Report

    #43

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Jbmi Report

    Gemma Lees
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We would sing "Constantinople is a very long word, can you spell it?" Same outcome.

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    #44

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    danis_danish Report

    Francis
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    stil happens today... but i loose track of my bf :D he says he wants a leash for me, so i don't get lost/wander away :D

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    #45

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    kingdine Report

    #47

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    LOLDude1295 Report

    Farid Adiyanto
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    6 YEAR OLD? i am 39 and still want just to stay home

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    #49

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    m3m3z.4r3.l1f3 Report

    #50

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    kokiboki01 Report

    MagicalUnicorn
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    never occurred to me as a kid, but totally doing it now at work as 34 year old :D

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    #51

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    nostalgia Report

    Guy MacGregor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never seen any of this.. What is it ? A coupon dispenser ?

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    #52

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    techrexlk Report

    Patrick McKemie
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Honestly, I just want to know what's going on in this photo.

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    #53

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    h0yminoy Report

    Bookey
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I did this! Maybe that's why my parents fought so much and are separated now.

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    #55

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Santa__Claude Report

    LOttawa
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If everything worked as it should on the first try, then yes you did deserve one.

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    #56

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    babblebam Report

    Guy MacGregor
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    no. Pinching a hole in the cap is the real budget one

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    #58

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Report

    Kiss Army
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or with pizza. I am 47 and have not had milk with pizza since grade school and have NO plans to change that...

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    #59

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    meme Report

    Coleen
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are you sure you weren't doing that when you typed the description for this pic? XD

    #61

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    Tepsu16 Report

    Kiss Army
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My son is 18 and has a stick that he found as a youngster. He named it Sticky and it was many things over the years: light saber, Buffy the Vampire Slayer stick, sword, etc. It sits on a shelf in his room and though he is very unsentimental, that stick, a stuffed bunny named PJ, Funny Bunny and his Winnie The Pooh blanket are not to be messed with.

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    #62

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    jgreenshields4554 Report

    Nicky OldfieldDesciple
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    looks like a cross between Mike Wazowski and Arnold Schwarzenegger

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    #63

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    ScruffyAF Report

    Ilona
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    School buses weren't a thing here. We rode our bikes to school. No matter what the weather was.

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    #65

    Things-Everyone-Experienced-In-Childhood

    punch_padudhi_2.0 Report