1980s

Chris and his mom in the eighties.

Baby Chris in 1982

Baby Chris and Barbara.

Chris and Barbara in 1985.

TRUE and HONEST BabyCWC

1986

Chris in 1986.

1987, Chris turns 5.

Poor pony.

Twenty years later, Chris himself would have a try at the Bunny Hop.

The 1980s was the decade in which Christian Weston Chandler was born, under the name Christopher Weston Chandler. (His name wasn't changed until 1994.) According to Chris, he had a lot of trouble growing up, and even coped with a prolonged episode of muteness.

Source material referring to the 1980s is scarce, and this article is mostly based on statements made by Chris at a later age, and on image material.

1980

The year Bob and Barbara got married.

Events of 1980

• 1980 - Cole moves away. Who he stayed with is unclear, as he would turn 17 this year and was thus unable to legally live on his own.
• 7 June - Bob and Barbara get married.
• August - Bob receives two triple bypass operations.

1981

The last year of peace for Bob and Barbara Chandler. Unluckily for them, the happy couple filled their time with lots of unprotected love-making. During the second half on this year, Barbara would be pregnant.

Events of 1981

• 26 May (approx.) - Bob and Barbara Chandler have sweaty old people sex. Christopher Weston Chandler is conceived.
• Fall 1981 - Cole enters San Diego State University and joins the Rockin' Dogs.
• 26 November (approx) - Barbara's last chance to abort Chris.

1982

The year that began the entire sorry saga.

Events of 1982

• 24 February - Christopher Weston Chandler is born around 5:30 a.m. at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia.
• 24 February - Chris is brought back to the Chandler household in Ruckersville.
• April - Chris allegedly speaks his first word: "monkey."
• 13 October - Sarah Nicole Hammer is born.

1983

Chris has stated that in 1983, he was abused by his babysitter, "starting" his autism. On other occasions, however, Chris has said that he is aware of autism being a hereditary disease, making his "acquisition" of autism impossible. We can nonetheless assume that the abuse Christopher suffered in 1983 was traumatic and possibly exacerbated his condition.

Events of 1983

• 24 February - Christopher's 1st birthday.
• August - Christopher's autism allegedly "begins." He claims the reason was an evil babysitter named Roach, who locked him in a room. He becomes mute.

1984

In 1984, Chris lived his life in Richmond as a mute toddler. He himself declares that he gave his parents a lot of trouble, and he screeched a lot. It is possibly indicated that his parents held this against him at a later age, and didn't really like caring for the autistic child they had created themselves.

Events of 1984

• 1984 - Cole leaves San Diego State University.
• 24 February - Christopher's 2nd birthday.

1985

In 1985, Chris is still a mute, screeching toddler. He first meets his Gal-Pal Sarah.

Events of 1985

• This year - Sarah Hammer and her family moves to Chris's neighborhood. The cordial relations that develops between the Hammer and Chandler couples lead to a (sort of) friendship between Chris and Sarah.
• This year - Cole's band, The Rockin Dogs, disbands.
• 24 February - Christopher's 3rd birthday.
• April - Chris has his picture taken holding a leaf.
• 12 August - birth of Jack Thaddeus.
• December - Chris and Barbara have their picture taken with Santa Claus.

1986

In 1986, Chris is still a mute, screeching toddler.

Events of 1986

• 17 January - The Adventures of the American Rabbit is released.
• 24 February - Christopher's 4th birthday.
• June - Chris has his picture taken at what seems to be a zoo.
• 23 July - Birth of Megan Schroeder.
• December - Chris has his picture taken in front of a bathroom, and at a shopping mall.

1987

In 1987, Chris starts attending Greene County Primary School. It isn't known for sure if he attended pre-kindergarten before then.

Events of 1987

• 24 February - Christopher's 5th birthday. A paper hat is made in his honor.
• August/September - Chris begins kindergarten at Greene County Primary School.

1988

In 1988, Chris starts first grade at Greene County Primary School, but he is still mute. Late 1980s, Chris joins the Cub Scouts.

Events of 1988

• Date unknown - Carol Chandler wins the McShane Prize.
• 24 February - Christopher's 6th birthday.
• 17 March - Patti is born.
• August/September - Chris begins first grade at Greene County Primary School.

1989

In 1989, helped by the language training at James Madison University, Christopher starts talking again whilst reading a Gobot package.

Events of 1989

• 1989 - Chris claims that he had a dream in which he saw himself with a daughter named Crystal, and working in an office.
• 24 February - Christopher's 7th birthday.
• August/September - Chris enters second grade at Greene County Primary School.
• December - The English conductor of the Regency Square Bear Band, Leonard Bearstein, mistakes Christopher's name for "Christian". According to Chris, this stuck, and would inspire his name-change in 1994, though other sources state that this happened in 1992.
• 25 December - Chris gets his second gaming system, a Nintendo Game Boy, for Christmas.