If I didn’t experience it in 1977, you won’t have it today…
My kids are convinced that the 1970s are the worst possible time to exist. Whenever my partner and I share stories from our childhoods, their expressions range from disbelief to sympathy, but mostly, I see a sense of relief that they’ll never have to live through that era. When they question our choice of pastimes—activities that now seem almost laughable—their synchronized response is always, “because there was nothing else to do.”
Despite their teasing about my upbringing, I generally have well-behaved kids. However, like all children, they occasionally need a little discipline. That’s when I send them to the one place that genuinely terrifies them: the 1970s.
In our household, the ’70s is the ultimate punishment for serious misbehavior, and it doesn’t take long for them to grasp the lesson.
I understand that some parents prefer a non-punitive approach, advocating for discussions and reasoning. While I agree that those methods have their merits, I also believe that there are moments when children need a timeout from reason—both for their sake and yours. I see it as my duty to prepare them for the real-world consequences of their actions.
If your kids are anything like mine, they’re fully aware of their wrongdoings and the rules they’ve chosen to ignore. They are not immune to impulse, and while I remember being a child who often pushed boundaries, I also recognize that discipline is essential. I’ve tried talking things through, but most often, consequences have the most lasting impact.
The idea of time travel as punishment sprang to mind when I realized that conventional punishments were falling flat. My earliest attempts involved sending them to the corner—a nostalgic throwback to my school days where misbehaving students were often banished to face the wall. However, I quickly discovered my kids would lie on the floor, staring at the ceiling or flipping through a book. Clearly, I needed something stronger.
As they grew older, I attempted “Go to your room!” But with gadgets and games at their disposal, their rooms felt more like paradise than prisons. When I’d call out that they could come back, their cheerful response was often, “That’s alright, Mom, I think I’ll stay here!”
Eventually, I resorted to the classic, “You’re grounded!” However, in our tech-savvy world, being grounded didn’t carry the weight it once did. Kids today seem to enjoy their homes and family time much more than my generation did, making a grounding far from the dreaded punishment it used to be.
After yet another one of my nostalgic tales of yesteryear, my youngest, Max, lamented, “I would hate to have been a kid back then.” That was my lightbulb moment.
I’m not a fan of surprise punishments; kids thrive on consistency. So, I laid out the rules: If you break any major family rule—like lying, being unkind, showing disrespect, or getting into a car with an inexperienced driver—you’ll be sent back to the ’70s.
If I didn’t have it back in 1977, you won’t have it in 2021. Want to watch network television? Sure! Feel free to chat on that dusty landline, which you probably don’t even recognize. Sure, we had a microwave in ’77, but good luck finding a Bagel Bite! Instead, grab an apple—those were the days!
Here are just a few things that are off-limits during their time travel: cell phones, laptops, DVDs, GPS (time to pull out a map, kiddos), iPods, Xboxes, iPads, Kindles, Netflix, HBO, cable TV, and here’s the kicker in our house: ESPN. Yes, boys, sports used to air on network channels, and games were only shown once a week!
I do make exceptions for safety features like airbags and anti-lock brakes—parental prerogative! My kids dread their trips back in time. While every child has fantasies about time travel, my kids are not fans of this particular journey. Yet, in our family, I’ve found no better form of discipline.
If you’re curious about other parenting insights, check out this post on navigating tricky conversations with kids. And if you’re considering starting your family journey, make sure to visit reliable at-home insemination kits. Additionally, for a wealth of information on pregnancy and fertility, this resource is an excellent option.
Summary
In a lighthearted yet stern approach, I share how I discipline my children by sending them on a metaphorical journey back to the 1970s—a time they dread. Traditional punishments like “go to your room” or “you’re grounded” fall flat in today’s tech-filled world, so I’ve crafted a unique punishment that resonates with them. This method not only teaches them about consequences but also provides a humorous insight into my own childhood experiences.
Leave a Reply