As parents, we often enjoy sharing tales from our own childhood, especially the challenges we faced that seem unimaginable to our kids today. “Back in my day,” we might say with a chuckle, “we had to endure some serious struggles!” Even though I’m only in my mid-30s, my experiences feel worlds apart from what my children know. The world has evolved significantly since the ’80s and ’90s, and some of the things that were once commonplace for me now sound utterly archaic to my little ones.
For instance, when I was in elementary school, the principal could actually administer a spanking if you misbehaved—something that would leave today’s kids utterly aghast. Here are 15 things from my childhood that my kids simply can’t fathom:
- Researching in Actual Libraries
Forget the internet! We had to venture to the library, navigate the Dewey Decimal System, and sift through physical books to find information. The horror of not having Google to help us! - Hand-Writing Everything
Reports were crafted with pencils until our hands ached. If we were lucky, we’d get to use a typewriter, which was cool… until we had to rip off the paper edges after printing. - Bathroom Breaks Without Smartphones
Nowadays, bathroom time is extended thanks to social media. Back then, we brought books, or worse, read shampoo labels while we waited! - Rewinding Movies
There was no instant-on-demand viewing. We often got stuck waiting for the VCR to rewind a rented movie—“Please be kind, rewind” was a motto we lived by. - Dialing a Rotary Phone
Kids today can’t imagine the patience required to dial a rotary phone. Mistakes meant starting all over again—no wonder they’re bewildered by it! - Busy Signals
After all that dialing, hearing a busy signal was the ultimate letdown. If your friend’s sibling was on the line, good luck getting through! - Answering Unknown Calls
The thrill of picking up the phone could mean anything—Grandma, a friend, or even the police! We never knew who was on the other end. - Manual Car Windows
Our arms were like steel from cranking down car windows. No simple push-button convenience for us! - Waiting for Film Development
There was no instant gratification with photography. We dropped off film and anxiously awaited its return—Polaroids were too expensive for everyday use! - Paying Without Swiping
Grocery trips took forever! Cashiers would manually enter prices, and then my parents had to write checks or count cash. - Only Watching Cartoons on Saturdays
Kids today can watch whatever they want, but we had to wait all week for Saturday morning cartoons—miss them, and you were out of luck! - Changing TV Channels Manually
We didn’t have remote controls all the time, which meant kids were often tasked with changing the channel. - Limited Snack Flavors
Our options were simple: one flavor of Cheerios and only two Gatorade options. When “Cool Ranch” Doritos debuted, it felt like a snack revolution! - Road Trips Without Gadgets
Long car rides meant playing games like I Spy; there were no DVD players or tablets—just us and our imaginations. - Dial-Up Internet
When we finally got online, it involved a loud screeching dial-up process, and if someone picked up the phone, we were booted off!
While I’m genuinely glad my kids have modern conveniences I didn’t, sharing these stories is part of being a parent. We might not have faced the legendary uphill both ways to school, but we certainly had our fair share of challenges. For more insights on parenting and navigating modern life, check out our terms here.
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In summary, the contrast between childhood experiences from decades ago and today’s conveniences is striking. While parenting may have its challenges, the modern tools available can make it a lot easier!