This thread is absolutely fascinating to read.
My childhood was interesting. The biggest thing that stands out in my mind about it was that my childhood was very, VERY far removed from reality. I'm an only child who was raised by a single INFP mother. She was quite far removed from "reality" herself, so it was never encouraged in me to be more "down to earth." In this respect, I was very lucky because I grew up in a wonderful environment to develop my Ni. However, I didn't grow up in a good environment for my Fe.
I think because I was so similar to my mother in a lot of ways, she couldn't understand why I was so intent on making people happy/pleasing them/keeping the peace (Fi versus Fe, I suppose). There was a constant battle in our household whenever I would come back from visiting my father (ISxP) and step-mother (ESTP). I would always mould myself into someone who fit in with this part of the family, because neither of them were very supportive of my "dreamy" Ni-ness. So I became a bit of an ISFP around these people, which never made me unhappy (for not being true to myself) because it kept the peace and pleased my dad.
My mother, however, could not, forthelifeofher, understand this about me. I'd come home and, for a day or so, while I was still adjusting to a new environment, be this other person. She thought I was being untrue to myself, which I was, but she couldn't see that it was all for my father (because I loved him so much). The funny thing is, though, I didn't do it consciously/with intention. I just did it instinctively and it's not until now that I've grown to realise the underlying "why" I did it.
Anyway, my mother could never see herself doing the same thing and, therefore, couldn't see why I would. This was very hard on me because it would make her quite angry and, of course, I wanted to make HER happy, too. I soon began to dread going to see my dad just because of my mother. It was this whole struggle within me and, because I didn't know why I did this thing, I began to feel like there was something wrong with me. The way my mother treated it, I started to feel like I was a horrible person for being this way and so I became more and more guarded in who I let show to her and the world. Because of this, she's never really gotten to know me very well, which she could have if she had just been more accepting. It's also because of this that my dad has never really gotten to know me, either. I suppose this is a problem that INFJs tend to have...being isolated and misunderstood (which is sometimes of our own doing)
Ah...well...I was not just misunderstood in my childhood because I brought it upon myself. Like I said earlier, I was quite far removed from reality and quite solitary. I didn't need friends because I had numerous ones in my mind, but I enjoyed having them. It was nice to have other kids to pull into my world every one in a while and they always seemed to enjoy it, too. However, I had only a few (quite literally, 3) of these people in my life. The rest simply did not get me and I don't blame them. I was always off by myself either reading or playing with my imagination. I didn't have much of an idea of what one should do "properly" in places like school (which is interesting, because I knew instinctively how to fit in with my dad...but not at school...weird).
I was teased and picked on more than I like to think about. But I always had my own little world and I retreated into it more and more with every ounce of ridicule. I remember I would spend as much time as possible in the library, helping the librarian and reading (and discovering new books to check out and read). I spent a LOT of time at home playing by myself with my toys. However, I never felt lonely.
Middle school is when it all changed because it was when I finally got a slap upside the head by reality. All of a sudden I was thrust into the world outside my head. I guess you could say that Fe really started to work here, because I realised that there were really cool people outside my head as well as people who needed a good friend to listen to them and be there. I learned to tone down Ni, but I was still very weird, and I still found it hard to be accepted. I was depressed all throughout middle school and I think I lost who I really was during those years. It wasn't until recently that I found that person again (it is so very, very nice).
Anyway, I was very aware of myself during that time and very aware of what other people were feeling. I remember once a friend of mine was describing how her ex-boyfriend had called her a bad name. The fact that someone would do this to another person (or why anyone would be mean to that sweet, wonderful friend) ripped my heart up and I started bawling. She didn't know why I was crying so hard, but she started crying, too.
Middle school was when I became aware of all of the bad things in the world. I was picked on as a child, but it never really phased me because, as far as I was concerned, I didn't have to live in that world. In middle school, I DID have to live in that world. I could see right through the facades of my classmates and I was keenly in tune with the meanness that pervaded that environment. It was depressing. I was depressed.
Anyway...that is a LOT! Hahaha. I've never really delved this deeply into that part of my life before so thank you for giving me the opportunity! It's been amazing