Reflecting on my childhood beach outings in the ’80s brings back fond memories of sun-soaked days spent with my mom and siblings. Those were carefree moments. Nowadays, as I watch fellow moms striving to recreate those enchanting beach experiences, it’s clear that things have evolved quite a bit since my days of slathering on baby oil and soaking up rays on a towel. Here’s how beach days have transformed:
1. The Food
Back in the ’80s, our beach snacks were straightforward. My mom would pack a bucket of fried chicken, a bag of Doritos, and a thermos filled with Kool-Aid. If we were fortunate, there’d be cookies—like Pecan Sandies or Double Stuf Oreos. Once the food was gone, that was it.
Now, we meticulously prepare organic fruits and veggies, create gluten-free energy bars, and load up on organic pouches of food that kids suck from BPA-free containers. We bring enough filtered water and juice (sans artificial colors) to last all day long. No fried chicken in sight, and honestly, I miss it.
2. The Sunscreen
In my youth, I distinctly remember applying sunscreen maybe two times. Mostly, I slathered myself in baby oil, used a tanning magnifier, and doused my hair with Sun-In—foils were definitely part of the look.
Today, we’re equipped with fashionable sun hats, SPF 554 sunscreen (which we reapply every hour), and swim shirts designed for UV protection.
3. The Gear
During my childhood, we needed very little to enjoy a day at the beach. Each kid grabbed a towel, and my mom managed a simple bag of food and a blanket.
Fast forward to today, and beaches are overflowing with umbrellas, tents, coolers, a plethora of plastic toys, and lounge chairs for every family member—even the toddlers. I could have sworn I saw an inflatable sofa last week!
4. The Toys
Beach toys were practically non-existent in the ’80s. I recall having a beach ball that blew away the moment we started playing with it. We entertained ourselves with sand, shells, and sticks, constructing epic sandcastles until our knees were raw and our backs were sunburned.
Nowadays, everyone brings along molds, shovels, watering cans, and dump trucks. I’ve lugged two bags of toys for my kids, only to find they preferred the shells and sticks, just like we did.
5. The Music
Back in the day, a boom box was our go-to for tunes at the beach. We’d blast our favorite mixtapes filled with hits from Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. Replaying a song required a hit of the rewind button.
These days, each person seems to have their own iPod or iPhone with earbuds.
This summer, I’m determined to give my kids a taste of those ’80s beach days. So if you see a woman with a drumstick dangling from her mouth, lugging a boom box towards the sand, that’s probably me. I’m sure my kids will be mortified, but I’ll be having a blast—and deep down, I think they will, too.
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