AWARE AT 3 or 4 YEARS OF AGE ?

by Blueblades 12 Replies latest jw friends

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  Blueblades

  Yesterday on I-95,the most " Sudden Kind of Death " occurred.Three young Yale students were killed at 5:00 am when their suv slammed into a tractor trailer that had itself crashed earlier.

  The college Dean,Richard Brodhead told about 400 students,faculty and staff that the accident was "The Most Sudden Kind of Death".

  He went on to say,"We learn by the time we are 3 or 4 years old that humans are not supposed to live forever.

  Were you, AWARE AT 3 or 4 YEARS OF AGE, that humans are not supposed to live forever?What was the earliest age that you can recall being aware of death and when did you start to think that humans are not supposed to live forever as the Dean expressed to the 400 students,faculty and staff members.

  My own memories go back as far as about 3 or 4 years of age when our house was on fire and I was wakened out of my sleep in the middle of the night by a fireman who saved my life. Blueblades
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  Shakita

  Sad story about the poor students! Their families must be beside themselves.

  My first memory of being aware that life does not go on forever is when my grandfather died. My Dad's dad died of a heart attack when I was about 9 or 10. My Dad spent the day in his room. This was a man who never cried, was very stoic, hardly ever showed his emotions. So, I knew from my father's reactions that this was the last time I would see grandpa. But, 3 or 4 years of age, I really don't have very many memories of my life that young. Just some flashbacks, like still photographs in my mind.

  Mrs. Shakita
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  Robdar

  I became aware of death at approximately 3 years of age. I knew that my parents would one day grow old and eventually die. I remember crying myself to sleep many, many nights. I couldn't bear the thought of it. I became aware of this because the old lady next door used to freak me out with the big blue veins in her wrinkled old hands. I didn't want to go near her. My mother, in trying to help me overcome my fears of the old woman, told me that some day she, too, would grow old. I couldn't believe it. To think of my mother and father growing old...Then one day, the old lady next door wasn't there anymore. Looking back, I can't recall which bothered me more, thinking of my parents getting old and wrinkled or one day going away and never coming back. Not too long after this, my parents converted to being a JW and I thought that my worries would never come to fruition.

  Robyn
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  Thirdson

  My earliest memories are when I was 2 years and 8 months old. I remember a number of separate events, (one traumatic at least to a two year old) that happened at the time my one younger brother (Fourthson) was born (Feb 7, 1963).

  When I was four our next-door neighbor died. She was my mom's best friend and was always round at our house. I only have the vaguest memory of what she looked like from one event. I do remember the shock of the time when another neighbor knocked on the door to tell us what had happened and I remember the ambulance outside our house. The neighbor died leaving her husband to care for their two preteen (one may have been a teenager, I don't remember). She died in her sleep of a brain hemorrhage and I guess she was in her mid to late 30's.

  I knew from that age that people die. I knew people died and were buried in the ground just like our pets died and were buried in the backyard. However, I didn't think I was going to die ever, I didn't think my parents would die either. We were all going to to enter the New System sometime in the 1970s and I wouldn't even have to finish school. It took a long time for that childhood delusion to go away.

  Thirdson
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  RubyTuesday

  The first time it really really penetrated was when my Dad died when I was 11 years old. It was so sudden..one minute he was there laughing the next....he was gone forever.
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  Mulan

  I really don't remember when I realized people die. The first death that touched our family was when my great grandmother died at 93, when I was 8, but I'm sure I knew about death before that.

  When Princess' son was about 3, he used to stress about death all the time. When he would make a wish, it was always "that I don't die", or that "grandma or grandpa won't die". I think he assumed his parents would live. My cousin, Sharon died when he was 5, and he called her Grandma Sharon, and loved her very much. That was hard on both of Princess' kids, and they remember, and understand death.

  Interesting question.
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  Francois

  I was about four years old and my great-grandmother died. She was in her late 90s and one of the most loving, selfless persons I've ever known. Being a naturall curious little tyke, I wanted to know if we all were going to die. And it worried me no end to discover that yep, we were all headed toward death eventually.

  francois
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  Prisca

  The earliest recollection of someone dying (and thus realising that life wasn't for ever) was when I was 5, and a brother in the congregation had died. I remember going to the funeral and being late for school that day.

  The first time I experienced someone in my family dying was when my mother died in hospital, when I was 11. Seeing someone die in front of you at such a young age has an enormous impact, or at least it did on me. It helped me realise that life is for living, and that impression is what helped me decide to leave the WTS later on, because I realised I was dying as a person, trapped in the WTS.
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  Brummie

  Well I never, I was worried about both of my sons when they talked about death from the age of 3 & 4...gee I'm glad that it isnt unique, I didnt even know where they had gotten that kind of chatter from, certainly didnt seem like childs talk to me...it had me worried for a while.

  I was well aware of death from around age 6 or 7 but I'm sure I hadnt given it a thought before then.

  Brummie
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  ballistic

  A very interesting question, I have vivid memories from my younger years, earlier than most people back to age 2, 3. But I draw a blank on this one. A change in understanding of such concepts isn't necessarily related to "events" which are easily remembered. I think this would have to go to the 4 year olds themselves in some kind of experiment.