By: Jamie L. Carter
Updated: July 8, 2021
Originally Published: May 23, 2015
Every generation has its tales of “Back in my day…”—those nostalgic stories we swore we’d never repeat. Yet here I am, taking my turn.
Dear Kids,
Let’s talk about what life was like when WE were kids.
When you had a crush and wanted to share it, you didn’t post on TikTok or Snapchat. Instead, you scrawled it on the bathroom wall or sent a shout-out to the local radio station. And trust me, they were always tuned in—because there was simply not much else to do.
Ordering pizza? Domino’s was the go-to. Your choices were limited to cheese or pepperoni, and if it took more than 30 minutes to arrive, it was free!
Making popcorn involved a pot or, if you were lucky, a Jiffy Pop kit. And yes, burns were a rite of passage from cooking it on the stove.
Want to catch a movie? You eagerly awaited the annual summer blockbuster, squeezing a bag of popcorn and a small soda between your knees in a flat-floored theater, often sitting next to someone enjoying a cigarette because, back then, smoking was permitted.
If you wanted to own that movie, you waited a whole year for it to release on VHS or Betamax, shelling out around $80 and praying it didn’t snap every time you rewound it. When disaster struck, you would manually rewind it with a pencil, trying to save your precious copy of Grease 2.
For music on the go, you used a walkman—heavy and cumbersome, making bike rides a bit of a challenge unless you had a basket to hold it. If you liked a song, you begged your mom for a trip to the mall for a cassette or sat by the radio, hoping to catch it and record it—only to have the DJ talk over the opening seconds.
Craving frozen yogurt meant tossing Yoplait in the freezer. And cereal prizes? They were actually in the box, not sealed in plastic like some fragile relic.
Selling candy for school meant rolling through the neighborhood in a wagon, knocking on doors, and no one ever worried about your safety.
Watching TV? You had three channels, and you prayed for good antenna reception.
Want to game? You stuffed quarters into an old sock and begged for a trip to the arcade, waiting for your turn while watching others play. At home, it was all about the Atari or Intellivision, usually hooked up to a small black-and-white TV from Grandma.
Wireless communication meant using a walkie-talkie or, if you were fortunate, a cordless phone—though they barely worked. You were better off with two cans connected by a string.
For school reports, your mom drove you to the library, where you navigated the Dewey Decimal System, spending hours sifting through musty books.
A McDonald’s Happy Meal? It consisted of a tiny burger, a handful of fries, a toy, and a drink. No one asked if the toy was for a boy or girl, and it was often filled with lead-based materials.
When your mom wanted a diet soda, she reached for Tab, which tasted like a can of evil.
Footwear options were limited to sneakers or flip-flops, worn until they fell apart—even in the pool.
And if you wanted to take a picture, clip a coupon, or find directions, you had to rely on a camera, scissors, a dictionary, or a map. Because apps? They didn’t exist!
So, kids, toughen up—you have it pretty good. If we made it through, so can you!
For more insights on family planning and home insemination, check out Make a Mom’s guide. They provide valuable resources on this journey, including the BabyMaker Home Insemination Syringe Kit, which is a great option to consider. Additionally, for comprehensive information on intrauterine insemination, visit Healthline.
Summary
This article reflects on the contrasting childhood experiences of today’s youth versus those of previous generations, highlighting the simplicity and challenges of life before technology took center stage.
Keyphrase: childhood experiences
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]