Earliest Memories

by bristow 07.11.13 18:03

I've read a number of times that the majority of people can't remember anything before the age of four, I personally think that's rubbish, I can remember back to before 1 year, although only a few things, I have a lot of clear memories from about 2 1/2 onwards.
I sadly don't believe Madeleine is alive because of the dogs evidence but I know some people think (I used to) that she was with someone her parents knew.
So really I'm just wondering if she ever did appear would she have any memory whatsoever of what happened that fateful night, plus will her siblings have any recall of events or happenings (after they had woken from their deep slumber) of the days or weeks that followed?
Would be interested to hear if anyone knows about this sort of thing, I will have a google too.

by Guest 07.11.13 20:36

As it would be interesting to find out what the twins remember about ~~what happened to~~ their sister

They were there, after all, in the same room with her, were they not?

Children do remember, from an unexpectedly early age: I remember sitting opposite my pregnant mother, on a particular chair

Afterwards, I counted back, and found I can't have been more than 16-18 months old at that time

And were not the twins, according to Kate, very articulate for 2-year olds?

by suzyjohnson 07.11.13 22:50

Madeleine was nearly at the age where she would have started school. I expect she would remember a great deal from that time, particularly since it would have meant such a drastic change in her lifestyle. It's very likely she would even remember names and events (because she would have spent a considerable time thinking about her parents, siblings and friends) and could possibly be confused about this if the people she lived with were telling her otherwise.

The twins on the other hand probably would not remember too much, most of what happened would be beyond their comprehension at that age and what little they would remember, would be confused by everything they had heard or seen, on television or from their parents etc. in later years, so they would likely be unable to differentiate between what they actually remember and what they had been told.

by **tigger** 08.11.13 6:24

The twins, according to Kate, could not remember much and were all right because they never had much to do with Maddie. Although that flies in the face of :She was a little mother to them, also by Kate.

However, in the Swedish Interviews - which are full of interesting information - Kate said the twins had astounded her by what they could remember.

A feature of this case where so many witnesses memory improves over the years.

by kimHager 12.03.14 5:08

The mccanns I think we're afraid of what the twins might remember so hence sedation and of course the bewk.. The truth according to Kate.... They would need that you know.. Just in case... They might get confused and have a repressed memory which would have to be disputed with.. The truth

by canada12 12.03.14 6:18

I have a lot of memories from when I was about two. I know what my age was because I can correlate the memories to what I know was going on with my family and where I was located in the world, where I was living, which country, etc. Interestingly, the majority of the memories have to do with things which upset me. I don't have a lot of day to day memories of "ordinary" things but I have a vast little warehouse of scenes and people and events which caused me unhappiness or anger at that age. And the memories are very very clear. They appear as individual scenes rather than a running commentary. But if the twins are anywhere as aware as I was at age 2, they will have quite a lot of interesting things to say,. if questioned.

by Guest 12.03.14 6:48

Personally i can't remember a jot before the age of about 3 and a half.

Sincerely hope that the twins can remember things however due to the amount of sedation they were under at that fateful time then i would be astonished if they could recall anything about the Portugal trip.

by Briohazard 12.03.14 7:51

I'd like to see what Ella has to say in 10 years time....

by frost 12.03.14 8:24

I doubt the twins will have any recollection of the night in question at all due to how 'sleepy' they were however im sure they will have plenty of memories when they are older of the whole mccann circus they have been subjected to . I really do feel for the twins and I do wonder how on earth they will cope with all this once they are of an age where they can surf the net themselves and read and analyze everything that has been written themselves oh and then theres the book don't even go there .

by Guest 12.03.14 9:41

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This photo of my daughter was taken outside a restaurant on the Algarve when she was about one year and eleven months old. When we returned to the same restaurant almost exactly a year later, she wanted to know where the dog was (although I suspect you may be able to guess what had become of the dog in the interim!). This is just one of dozens of similar anecdotes that I could regale you all with - the point being that it's likely that the twins remember much, much more about the events of that holiday than you might think.

by Guest 12.03.14 10:12

Personally think kids at 2 retain good memories of the prior year. Until they reach 4 where their memories can remember even more and it stays with them.

It was a huge mistake not to talk to the twins,because they were possibly sedated on the 3rd when all the action was kicking off they obviously wouldn't remember that night.
But if like most on here that believe something happened prior to this day it is quite possible they were around when it happened.

Imo we hold onto bad early memories for a long time.

by HelenMeg 12.03.14 10:31

I dont think we can generalise too much, as obviously different individuals have different experiences with this.
But I was taught that most individuals will have infant amnesia - for at least very early years - as the memory does not start to develop properly and mature until around 2 - 3 years. However, there are people who do form memories ast such an early age, but in general, most tend to start developing memories from 3 onwards.... so maybe there is a good chance that the twins will recall things... but it cant be relied upon

by whatliesbehindthesofa 12.03.14 11:18

I have a few clear memories from when I was 3, the clearest being my mother arriving home with my new baby brother, which would have made me 3y 4m at the time. Not much else - my dad building a bench in the garden when there was a rainbow. I'm an odd case though - my memory is pretty much 'photographic', although that isn't what most people think it is.

I can't comment on the twins' ability to recall their sister. We're all different.

by Guest 12.03.14 14:38

I personally wonder if the twins can remember anything much about Madeleine as they were so young when whatever happened happened. I suppose her memory is kept alive for them mostly by photographs or video recordings rather than actual personal memories. Also I don't think they could remember anything if they had been sedated. Yet I would not rule it out completely for them to have some memories of her on that holiday or others on that holiday. Personally I have a couple of memories of a nice lady who, over time I now identify as having been my Grandmother. Not from photos because there weren't any taken of her at that time in her life and they didn't have a camera. Yet I remember her very clearly and also her house which is no longer standing. She died when I was 14 months old. I also remember my own old fashioned baby pram with a light green hood and being strapped in it. It was got rid of when I was 2, but I remember it very clearly. I used to fiddle with the hood at the side. Again no pictures to prompt me. I don't need them. I remember it very well. Wouldn't rule out odd flashbacks for the twins like I have had. You just never know what anyone will remember.

by Guest 12.03.14 14:48

The other day a 2-yr old toddler saw his Mam cut off a finger, and was savvy enough to pick up her iPhone, wipe off the blood and call the emergency services

So only God knows if one or both of the Twins could have raised the alarm if they had been conscious when "IT" happened.

What an uncanny coincidence they weren't, on the particular day an abductor dropped by to take their sister!

And what a lucky getaway for the abductor, the twins were out cold!

Coincidence, coincidence!

by Doug D 12.03.14 14:48

One 'implanted' memory Amelie will surely retain is sitting at the side of the pool splashing the water with her feet in the presence of her dad & sister!

by Mélusine 12.03.14 14:58

Actually, this really puzzles me.

Are we sure that nobody then questioned the twins? I mean PJ or British police, social worker, psychologist?

And if not I really wonder why. Personally I think that now the twins memories are mixed with McCanns "propaganda", but at that time they certainly must have remembered sth which might have been of great importance. How they as family spent time in PdL, whether Mum/Dad was angry/upset, whether other people took care of them... whatever.

My own children at that age would have been able to tell all sorts of interesting things.

by Guest 12.03.14 15:37

My son too but it would probably have been mainly about dinosaurs!

I don't suppose we'll ever know if the twins were questioned gently at the time to see what they could say.

It was mighty suspicious in the Lisa Irwin case that the parents did not allow their older and much more aware children to be questioned.

by canada12 12.03.14 15:41

Doug D wrote:One 'implanted' memory Amelie will surely retain is sitting at the side of the pool splashing the water with her feet in the presence of her dad & sister!

Oh indeed!

"Mummy... where's my right arm?"

by Guest 12.03.14 15:47

canada12 wrote:
Doug D wrote:One 'implanted' memory Amelie will surely retain is sitting at the side of the pool splashing the water with her feet in the presence of her dad & sister!

Oh indeed!

"Mummy... where's my right arm?"

It moved on.

by Guest 12.03.14 15:49

It is there - honest! You can just see a little bit of it but you also get an eyeful of Gerry's leg which isn't to be recommended.

by Guest 12.03.14 15:52

Did you have to brace yourself to look, No Fate? omg

by whatliesbehindthesofa 12.03.14 15:55

canada12 wrote:
Oh indeed!

"Mummy... where's my right arm?"

It ran away in horror at the thought of people who can't understand perspective ;-)

by Guest 12.03.14 15:59

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Brace yourselves folks!

There is - no doubt whatever in my mind - part of Amelie's right arm showing, above the shadow between her and Gerry.

by whatliesbehindthesofa 12.03.14 16:04

No Fate Worse Than De'Ath wrote:
Brace yourselves folks!

There is - no doubt whatever in my mind - part of Amelie's right arm showing, above the shadow between her and Gerry.

No doubt here either, her right arm is there and present.