As a member of the older millennial generation, I straddle the line between the analog past and the digital present. I can vividly recall a time before social media, smartphones, and constant connectivity. However, as a parent to a young child in the age of tablets and streaming services, I am increasingly aware that the relics of my childhood would seem utterly foreign to him.
In his world, technology moves at breakneck speed, and he would never fathom that the devices he takes for granted didn’t even exist when I was his age. In fact, he can’t believe that we used to enjoy the same TV shows! With each passing day, I find myself compiling a list of the things from my past that will seem bizarre to him as he grows older. Here’s what I’ve gathered so far:
- Dial-Up Internet
Can you imagine having to tie up the phone line just to get online? I doubt he’ll believe that was ever a thing. - Landline Phones
He won’t grasp the concept of a phone tethered to the wall, and leaving home without a mobile device was just a part of life back then. - Beepers
Before smartphones, beepers were the trend—unless you were a doctor, they served little purpose beyond paging you to find a phone. - Pay Phones
The idea of a random public phone where you could make calls for just a quarter? He’ll think I’m joking! - Answering Machines
Long before voicemail, we used answering machines that recorded our calls. There was something thrilling about racing to the machine to hear if there were messages, especially if you were trying to keep something from your parents. - Cassette Tapes
As a kid, cassette tapes were the ultimate portable music format. I thought I was the coolest kid on the block with my Walkman. - CDs
When CDs gained popularity, I eagerly transitioned to this new format, amassing a sizable collection that I still treasure. - VHS Tapes/VCRs
I had a massive collection of Disney VHS tapes that I miss dearly. Sure, they were bulky and required constant rewinding, but they were part of the magic of movie nights—unless you wanted to watch Titanic, which needed two tapes! - Video Rental Stores
There was nothing quite like the excitement of heading to Blockbuster on a Friday night to rent a movie. You had to pray the previous renter had remembered to “be kind, rewind!” - Butterfly Clips
As a tween, butterfly clips were all the rage. Honestly, I used them more for sneaker decoration than hair styling. - Sanrio Characters
While Hello Kitty remains popular, characters like Keroppi and Badtz-Maru have faded into obscurity. The Sanrio stores we once loved are now mostly gone. - TRL (Total Request Live)
Remember the days when MTV actually played music videos? Kids today will never know the thrill of hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars outside the MTV building. - Dunkaroos
These nostalgic snacks, consisting of cookies and frosting, were the ultimate lunchbox treat. I can only imagine what the school would think if they saw those today! - Beanie Babies
These collectibles were all the rage, and we genuinely believed they’d be worth a fortune someday. Now, they mostly gather dust. - T.G.I.F. Programming
Shows like Full House and Boy Meets World might have had revivals, but nothing compares to the anticipation of the classic T.G.I.F. lineup on Friday nights. - Saturday Morning Cartoons
Waking up early on a Saturday with a bowl of sugary cereal to watch animated classics like DuckTales and Recess was a cherished ritual. It’s hard to imagine that many networks had their own Saturday morning cartoon blocks, but ABC really had the best selection.
It’s a shame I didn’t keep more of these items; the only way my child will encounter them now is through a museum exhibit. It brings to mind a quote from the movie Clueless: “The way I feel about the Rolling Stones is the way my kids are going to feel about Nine Inch Nails, so I really shouldn’t torment my mom about Mick Jagger anymore, huh?” Ah, growing up—it’s a wild ride.
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In summary, the technological gap between generations is vast, and the nostalgic items from my childhood will seem like artifacts to my child. As he grows, these memories will be just stories to him, much like the tales I heard from my parents about their own youth.