Telling Children That You Can't Visualize Their Childhood

I didn't find out I had Aphantasia until I was 70 so I raised 3 children and never told them I had no visuals of the past with them because I didn't know they were any different than I was. Once I found out about Aphantasia, I just asked my family and a few close friends if they could see an apple and explained that I cannot visualize an apple or anything else. Not from the past or present. It hasn't been a problem.

I don't have children, but here's how I approached sharing my aphantasia with my extended family: I'd wait until a time when your family is doing something together, which doesn't require much thinking, like assembling a jigsaw puzzle or a long car ride. At an appropriate time, ask your kids some questions like: * Close your eyes and think of a favorite place, like a beach. What do you see? * Is it like real life, like watching a movie, like a shadow, blurs of colors, or just black? * Do you feel the wind, smell the salt air, or hear the roar of the waves? * What do you see and experience when you're dreaming? It's entirely possible that either child might also have aphantasia. I would not "explain that you don't have visual memories of their childhood". Instead, just say that you don't have a visual memory. No need to focus on their childhood at all. You shouldn't feel guilty or regretful for something you can't control. Can you remember sounds, smells, touch, or taste? If so, you can share that you, for example, still remember the first time they said a word, or dada, etc. Whatever else you do, I'd recommend taking lots of photos and videos.