6 Key Lessons from Growing Up in the ’70s and ’80s

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Navigating adolescence in the ’70s and ’80s was a unique experience, one that my friend Jenna distinctly remembers with a mix of nostalgia and amusement. Recently, while waiting for her hair to dry at a salon, she expressed how she would never want to relive her teenage years. Quite frankly, that’s a pity, because high school was a blast—at least for those of us who graduated in ‘82!

Sure, like any generation, we faced our share of teenage challenges: awkward moments, crushes that went unreciprocated, and the pressure of exams. Yet, when I look back, it’s the valuable lessons we learned during those formative years that shine the brightest. Without the technology that teens have today, we faced hurdles that today’s youth might find hard to imagine. Here are six important life skills we developed growing up in that era:

1. Mastering Delayed Gratification
   Saturday morning cartoons were a cherished tradition, but they only aired once a week. We couldn’t binge-watch shows on platforms like Netflix or access countless episodes on YouTube. After a long wait, we’d settle in with a bowl of sugary cereal and a glass of Tang, savoring the thrill of those three-hour viewing marathons.
2. Embracing Diversity and Inclusion
   At my high school, there was a boy named Alex who had a disability. Despite any challenges he faced, Alex was one of the most popular kids in school, loved by everyone. We instinctively accepted each other’s differences and welcomed everyone into our circle, without the need for mandatory workshops on kindness.
3. Understanding Limits and Gratitude
   We had just a handful of TV channels and a limited selection of candies—plain and peanut M&Ms were our only options. With no instant gratification from video games, we had to make do with classics like Pong and Space Invaders. Our food choices were basic too, with “food” being a singular category. Yet, we thrived on snacks like Slim Jims and Tab soda, learning to appreciate what we had.
4. Cultivating Resourcefulness
   Remember “study hall”? Instead of diligently hitting the books, we crafted paper footballs and origami fortune tellers during that free period. We found inventive ways to entertain ourselves, proving that creativity could triumph over boredom.
5. Navigating Communication and Manners
   Our conversations happened on landline phones, where we’d talk for hours. We engaged with friends in person, ringing doorbells rather than sending texts. The thrill of slipping a handwritten note to a classmate was a rite of passage, full of nervous excitement—an experience that texting simply can’t replicate.
6. Growing Up with Iconic Entertainment
   From unforgettable movies to legendary music, we experienced some of the best entertainment of all time. John Hughes helped define our high school years with classics like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Our proms were filled with tunes from Queen, Billy Joel, and Madonna, while MTV showed us music videos that shaped our culture.

In summary, our experiences in the ’70s and ’80s taught us valuable lessons in patience, acceptance, creativity, interpersonal skills, and an appreciation for the arts. If you’re interested in more nostalgic insights, check out one of our other blog posts here. For those on their own fertility journeys, consider visiting Make a Mom for at-home insemination kits, or explore ASRM for resources on pregnancy and home insemination.