Childhood memories might be full of mysteries that defy explanation, making us uneasy about weird experiences we don’t completely understand. Whether it’s interactions with strangers or unsettling paranormal sensations, these experiences typically stick with us as we grow older, piqueing our interest in their origins. Fortunately, many people find online groups where they may discuss their experiences without fear of being judged.
People 1
My pal and I were bashing each other with pillowcases (why? I don’t know. We swung at each other, holding tight to our cases. We hit each other simultaneously, and after we finish the swing, we glance at our hands and grip each other’s cases.
They simply switched, and neither of us left feeling as if anything had been taken from us or that there had been an exchange. They were just abruptly swapped. We have no idea how this happened; it makes no sense. If I could see a video of any event in my life, I would choose that one. © Broship_Rajor / Reddit
People 2
I once went to a family friend’s house and used their toilet. For whatever reason, I decided to open the lid of the toilet’s box, and there was a giant live crayfish just chilling inside. © SuperGIoo / Reddit
People 3
When I was nine, I tumbled down the stairwell from the second to the first floor. A woman approached me and asked whether I was okay; I assumed she was a friend of my grandmother’s. I told her I was OK. And then I asked my grandmother in the other room who her buddy was.
She didn’t know who I was talking about. I saw this woman several times. Finally, my mother led me to the former owner of the house, where she showed me a photograph of her grandmother, who was the woman. © Unknown Author / Reddit
People 4
I awoke in the middle of the night and peeked in the corner of my room to see a hooded figure close to my dresser. At first, I assumed it was simply some clothing hanging from my wardrobe, but then it rotated and I saw crimson eyes staring at me. I instantly got out of bed and turned on the lights. There were no clothes hanging from my dresser.
I would have dismissed it as a horrible dream, but then I noticed my dog peering into the corner. I was outside the room and started shouting for her to come out, but she wouldn’t quit staring where I had seen the hooded person. She didn’t react to my call, so I went back into my room and grabbed her off the bed.
I spent the remainder of the night in the living room, and my dog stayed in my parents’ room for the rest of her life. © baronjohnson / Reddit
People 5
I recall lying on my living room floor, perhaps around the age of ten, worried about how I was a lesbian, how I would tell my parents, and how I would never have children. I recall telling myself, “I’ll deal with this later,” then getting up and going about my business. This was just remembered about a year ago. By the way, I’m not a lesbian. © whatwouldbuffydo / Reddit
People 6
When I was a kid, my father would drive us to a huge lake with a long sandy beachfront, similar to a landlocked beach. I was wading in the shallow end when I felt something brush against my fingertips. When I was seven years old and wished I was on a real beach, I thought, “Maybe these are sea plants!” Then I understood it was ridiculous.
As I squeezed the tendrils that were brushing my hand, they squashed and sank, and I could feel bones beneath the soft, mushy mass. Finger bones felt like I was holding the hand of a youngster my age. I went out of the sea, sat on the beach, and told nobody.
A year later, my sister claimed she thought a boy had been kicking her under the water, but when she grabbed her foot, it felt cold and squishy, and she informed no one. © Bathysphere710 / Reddit
People 7
When I was about 7, I was lying on my bed, holding a recorder. Then my hand with the recorder abruptly closed in, and the recorder vanished; I never found it again. RIP recorder. © VeryRoomy / Reddit.
People 8
We were eight, and our school required guys to wear a cotton vest under their white school shirts. One day, Tom arrived at school without it. The teacher added, “If you’re so desperate to show off your body, do it in front of everyone,” and began ripping off his shirt.
We were all sh0cked to discover the faint impression of a bandage across Tom’s lower back. It wasn’t a scar or anything horrifying – just a regular bandage, like you’d see after a scratch or minor accident. The class exhaled together, the tension dissipating.
The teacher, realizing the uproar she had caused, suddenly looked mortified. She took a deep breath and attempted to recover control of the situation. “Tom, you should have said something if you were injured. I’m very, very sorry.”
Tom wiped his eyes. “It’s nothing serious,” he muttered. “I just hurt myself playing football yesterday. I didn’t wear the vest because the bandage itches.” He then pulled his shirt back on with the assistance of a classmate.
The room had relaxed, and we all exchanged hushed glances. At that point, we understood that we tend to make assumptions too rapidly. What began as a humiliating scenario evolved into a moment of enlightenment.
Childhood memories often linger with us, but some are better left in the past. In this article, we’ve collected nine stories from people who shared childhood experiences they’d rather forget.