, Memory

I hardly remember the first 10 years of my life, but my parents were very unhappy people so I think I just didn't want to remember. It's also possible that for MIL, there was a LOT of routine at school, so it's easier to remember. And SIL was performing and did extra stuff-if she was a stickler on doing well, she'd pay attention to that stuff. You're normal.

Maybe the issue is not their memory but that they sat and made you listen to trivial details about things you weren't involved in all weekend. That certainly would have annoyed me.

I never do understand when I go to visit my extended family and they sit and talk, constantly, about people whom I do not know. I don't mind some chit-chat about such things but they do it constantly. It's a form of rudeness imho.

When I have people in my home I try to discuss things that are mutually interesting.

But to answer your question, no - I would not remember such details about my life growing up. I do have a weird memory for phone numbers but I wouldn't rattle them off to you. :P

No way! And it is easier for me since we moved a lot so I know we lived in this house for these grades, etc. Gosh your weekend sounds like a nightmare to me, who cares about that kind of detail stuff from years ago? Sounds more like a monologue than a conversation if it does not connect with you, the guest in their house. Somewhat rude too, unless this is a once in a year visit and then you just endure and realize you do not have to do this for a long time again! The only time that happens to me is when my husband meets high school friends and they start reminiscing about events I was not part of, which is incredibly boring. But then again, my husband gets bored when I meet co-workers and we chat about stuff we have in common that he does not. We have learned to do this without the other.

Nope. Memory bank is almost empty. Very vague. And that's OK! When I get together with siblings we all tell stories about our childhood, which sometimes are similiar, but often, comically, not.

Now my Dad dictated his autobiography for me, and named every teacher for every grade of his life, remembering them in detail. Amazing!

I think it depends on the person and certainly does not mean you are lacking anything. Some people just remember distinct details... I am one of them.

I can remember vivid details from childhood through adulthood... my school, where I sat in class, teachers, what I wore on my birthday, what I had on when I met hubby, what I ate at a restaurant years ago and so on. My mom is as curious as I am as to why and how I remember what I have.

To this day my husband is in awe because I remember birthdays, names, addresses, zip codes, phone numbers, multiple account numbers. I have a visual in my mind of when and where I saw something and I can find a receipt within 5 minutes from 20+ yrs ago if needed.

He just said this morning that he wished he knew the guy's name who installed our fence when we built our house in 2000. I said, his name is Todd and I have the receipt with quote in this file and handed it to him instantly.

I don't know why I have memory like this.. I never use an address book... it is all in my head, same with my calendar.

Everyone has some trait that someone else might think is odd. My hubby laughs at me about it but says he is glad I remember things because he doesn't.

Hmm this is an interesting topic. While I remember each of my grade school teachers and occasional significant moments, I would never remember the details your in-laws do. I often feel my memory, specifically for events, is bad. I also can't remember movies. My husband will say "We saw that!" and tell the plot a few years later, but I forget the movie within a couple months.

I am glad to see there seems to be a spectrum among the respondents about memory; I thought it was just me. (I blamed it on alcohol consumption in my wild days). Apparently everyone is really different. I'm sure you've heard about people like actress Marilu Henner, who has an autobiographical memory. She can remember every day of her life...isn't that crazy?

I have huge gaps in memories. I can barely remember what I made for dinner last weekend, much less things about my classmates and such! They are lucky to be able to remember that much, but I don't think it's that common, personally. I THINK I went to grade school! hahaha but I can't really remember! :D

The older you get the better your long term memory is. I am amazed at what I can remember fro years and years and years ago lol!!!! However, the older you get , the worse your short term memory is. I.e., what did we do yesterday kind of thing. So your MIL sounds normal to me.

Updated

The older you get the better your long term memory is. I am living it. It's amazing what I can remember. However, the older you get the worse your short term memory is!

I think it depends on the person. I have memories from being a very, very young child, I am talking 2 years old. I am the person at class reunions that remembers situations, teachers, classroom set up... All sorts of useless information.

I even run a page on FB about memories of Austin. I cannot remember all details, but enough to bring up a conversation and let others fill it in.

And so that means, I cannot remember to do some basic things in my life.. It is a trade off. Some good, some not so good.

I remember every teacher but that's about it.
I remember only some classmates.
I can see each school I went to in my mind's eye but forget what we had
for dinner 2 nights ago.
I "brain dump" what I don't need apparently. Dinner is not a needed
memory. ;)
I find older people like to reminisce as they age.
I have, also, found some people have better memories than others.
Just like some people are better cooks than others, faster runners than
others, funnier than others etc.
Personality trait.
I would just let them talk.
Older people, in my own experience, like to talk about heir past. And they
should. It's a legacy they are leaving to those listening. To their kids,
siblings etc.
Chalk it up to aging, individual personalities, enjoy what you can, leave the rest alone, give yourself a break if you don't remember much etc.
I've, also, found my "mom" friends' memories are not quite as good as
they used to be. My opinion? They are "busy" watching, raising, safe-
guarding, entertaining their children as their primary "job". Dads, too.
So give yourself a pass! ;)

I remember every teacher I had from Kindergarten through grade six, but that is because in elementary school we were with the same teacher all day. After grade six I do remember teachers, but not all of them, as we had different teachers for each class. I remember all of the kids I went to school with, since many of them I went to school with for 13 years, we lived in the same neighbourhood and we are still in contact. I remember my first day of kindergarten very vividly. I remember the poem I had to recite in grade five and the song and dance I performed in the school operetta in grade six. I remember the clothes I wore, the books I read and the classrooms I was in.

I remember mine very well, but I don't talk about it to others. However, my mother does. Over and over...

My condolences...