Recently, my girlfriend and I were talking about the things we used to do when we were little. Things we would NEVER let our kids do now. Like go on routine cigarette runs for her mother. At the time, I thought nothing of it. In fact, the liquor store owner didn’t even bat an eye as two doe-eyed girls approached the register. His fluffy cat was always nearby to greet us.
Looking back now, it seems crazy to let your child walk to the corner store by herself. It’s something I would never let my own child do. Mainly out of fear for her safety. That, and I could get arrested. The point is, times have changed. Unlike children who were raised in the 70′s or early 80′s, today’s children are no longer left to their own devices. They are not free to roam about as they please. Here are ten things I got to do growing up as a gen-X kid:
1. Eat Pop-Tarts for breakfast. I suppose this frosted toaster pastry was intended to jump start your day. How could I mistake a Pop-Tart for anything but wholesome nutrition?
Pop-Tarts are still ‘crazy good!’ I’m guilty of buying the S’mores flavor on occasion.
2. Babysit. I was often asked to babysit my younger siblings. Though I tried to run a tight ship while mom was out, I somehow always forgot to lock the front door.
3. No seat belts. I remember my dad holding me on his lap in the front seat of the car. No one in my family wore seat belts until it was mandated by law.
4. Unlimited access to sugary drinks. I could drink obscene amounts of Kool-aid. And if that failed to quench my thirst, I could always fix myself a glass of Tang. Because, you know, at least it contained vitamin-C.
5. Play till the streetlights came on. All the kids in the neighborhood played till 8:00 p.m. We only came in for lunch and dinner.
6. Make-up at age thirteen. I thought my mother was the most beautiful woman on earth. I wanted to look just like her. So, I would sneak into her make-up bag and paint my face.
7. Listen to Madonna’s Like a Virgin soundtrack. I wasn’t even ten years old when her music was first introduced to me. And yet, I knew all the lyrics to that song. I had no clue what they meant, of course.
I never understood why Madonna wore so much lace in this video. Now, I do.
8. No sunscreen. My mom only packed baby oil for our trips to the beach. Apparently, she didn’t think we’d get burned.
9. Shoes were not required. I could spend the entire summer walking around barefoot. Fortunately, I never did. I was too afraid of getting ringworm.
10. Chores were not required either. My mom, bless her heart, did laundry for me till I graduated high school.
In spite of this laissez-faire approach to parenting, I’m still thankful for my upbringing. My mom had me when she was young and did the best she could under the circumstance. I wouldn’t be who I am today without those life experiences. So, thanks mom!
What are some things your mom let you do that would probably be outlawed today?
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Photo credit:
every night was a packaged TV Dinner night… can’t remember the last time I had one of those. Must be 25 years…
Posted by Sreejit Poole | March 7, 2013, 6:12 amI bet you’re glad those days are behind you! Home cooked meals are so much more gratifying. Isn’t it funny how times have changed since we were kids?
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:15 amI wrote a similar post a while back myself. We used to throw lawn darts over houses and ride in the back window area of mom’s car and try to get truckers to honk for us. Most of the adults who used to drive us around town did so with a beer in between their legs! Yikes! And I still love me some strawberry pop tarts from time to time. WITH frosting!
Posted by donofalltrades | March 7, 2013, 6:16 amOh yeah, I definitely remember the truckers and their horns! I can’t say that I recall an adult driving with a beer between their legs, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen! As for the strawberry pop-tarts with the sprinkled frosting, they are my personal favorite too!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:22 amI was born in ’79, I can relate to many of the things you posted above. My mom sent me to the corner store, about 10 blocks away, for milk or other types of groceries…I was in the 1st grade I think or the 2nd grade. I even walked home from school every grade year, starting from 1st grade, and home was several blocks away. I also ate ice cream for breakfast lol! Yes, the things we did as children certainly aren’t doable for our children nowadays.
Posted by jennnadams | March 7, 2013, 6:26 amTen blocks away? Yikes! Our local store was only around the corner from our house. I remember seeing all the neighborhood kids there. It was perfectly acceptable for kids to buy groceries for their parents. I love the fact that you got to eat ice cream for breakfast. Though I’m guessing ice cream isn’t on the menu first thing in the morning now, Jen?
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:27 amOh no, ice cream isnt on the menu for breakfast. Though, my lil one has gotten away with eating mini reese cups along with her breakfast a few times lol!
Posted by jennnadams | March 7, 2013, 1:56 pmOh gosh, I’ve been known to smuggle in a few reese cups for breakfast too. I love having a bite of chocolate with my morning coffee!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:19 pmI used to go the corner store all the time…every time we lost our Wiffle ball playing in the street until we were called in for dinner. I was just telling my kids about that the other day. The store owner wouldn’t even charge me sometimes, and sometimes would put it on my parents tab. lol Just this week, I bought Pop-Tarts for my kids and won “World’s Best Mom” award in their eyes. he he Every once in awhile I throw them a bone.
Posted by littlemisswordy | March 7, 2013, 6:31 amI love the fact that you were a local at the corner store. So much so that the owner didn’t even charge you. Now, that’s what I call gracious living. Life seemed simple and carefree back then. Now, things are bit more complicated. Like, you know, the decision whether to buy preservative packed snacks or not. I recently caved too and bought them the strawberry frosted flavor. My kids were in heaven!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:29 amI can relate to just being outside with the neighborhood kids all summer. It was the best! Kool-aid was common too…1 whole cup of sugar per pitcher – yikes! We loved Madonna too! I love chocolate and s’more poptarts too as a treat! Great memories and post!
Posted by go Mama O | March 7, 2013, 6:34 amSummers were the best! I loved spending all day outdoors. Now, I would NEVER dream of letting my kids roam about the neighborhood freely. Guess we were lucky to experience this much freedom without any dire consequences. Though I’m thinking the amount of sugar we consumed might have been as equally damaging!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:46 amha ha! Yeah, I don’t know how my husband and his 6 siblings (4 brothers, 2 sisters) lived on Kool-aid. His poor mom!
Posted by go Mama O | March 7, 2013, 12:35 pmOh how I relate! My dad used to drive us in pickups and utility trucks, down the freeway/interstate highways. We might have a mattress in the back. We would ride for 70 miles like this. Waving. Giving “peace” signs to the truckers. Mom would lock us out of the house so she would have peace for a few minutes. Oh the list goes on.
Posted by Chatter Master | March 7, 2013, 8:12 amColleen, you’re giving me the best visual with a mattress in the back of a pick-up truck. I bet those were some of the best memories you had growing up. I’m sure you kids were bouncing all over the place. The times I rode in the back of my cousin’s pick-up truck, I remember laughing so hard that tears rolled down my face!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:37 amWe’re lucky none of us bounced out!
I still say we started the “peace” movement of the 60′s and 70′s with all of us little people in the back of the vehicles giving the peace sign up and down the interstate!
Posted by Chatter Master | March 7, 2013, 2:32 pmWow, I did everything but the cigg run. We turned out ok, right?
Posted by st sahm | March 7, 2013, 8:16 amHa! The good ol’ cigarette run, a bit scary when I look back now. Yes, I’m guessing we turned out okay. As long our kids NEVER find out what life was really like in the 70′s and 80′s!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:18 amThis is so funny! Okay, not only did I do the cigarette run for my parents but they also gave me some extra money so I could buy candy cigarettes! Also, I was lactose intolerant as a baby so starting as a baby I had Tang in my bottles! It was the drink of astronauts after all! It is just a wonder that people raised during that generation turned out pretty okay!
Posted by motherhoodisanart | March 7, 2013, 8:25 amYay, Melissa, I’m not the only who got to buy candy cigarettes! Those little babies were the BEST! Do you remember the cigarette gum, the ones that actually puffed out a powdery smoke substance? I bought those at the local store too. As for the Tang, I think it’s ingenious that your parents gave you that in lieu of milk. My mom put apple juice in my bottles because she thought it was nutritious!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:34 amNo!!! I never had the cigarette gum!! I’ve never seen it! Boy did I miss out! My mom and I talk about how she used to raise us kids all the time. She feels bad but she said there just wasn’t the information out there like there is today. She is always amazed at how much I talk to my pediatrician. She said the doctors back then didn’t tell you anything!
Posted by motherhoodisanart | March 7, 2013, 8:49 amWe played war with the neighborhood kids using Daisy pump-action BB rifles. No eye protection…but we did have our Mattel plastic Army helmets which wouldn’t stop a charging bee with stinger extended. When a boy “went down” wounded, we fire point blank. That’s when a mother would come out and say, “Stop shooting each other.”
We came out OK, too. Unwounded. No murderers amongst us.
Posted by Mustang.Koji | March 7, 2013, 8:36 amKoji, that’s too funny! I can envision you charging the neighborhood boys with your BB-rifle. The best part was how your mother was so cavalier about it, “Stop shooting each other.” Like it was no big deal.
Can you imagine kids playing with BB-guns today? Too high risk if you ask me. In fact, my husband won’t even allow my three year old son to play with plastic guns. Times sure have changed!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:42 amsummer time and extended hours into the night away from home playing with friends. no one lets their kids out of sight for one minute these days…sigh…
Posted by Barbara @ Just Another Manic Mommy | March 7, 2013, 8:46 amYou’re right, Barbara. It’s way too dangerous to let kids out of your sight these days. I don’t even let mine venture into the front yard alone. I’m a hyper-vigilant parent. But, it sure is nice to have childhood memories to fall back on. Growing up wild and free is a thing of the past!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:50 amWow. It is really scary how alike we (and our families!) are! PopTarts for breakfast? Only if they’re chocolate. Madonna’s music? Only while singing and dancing along with my mom. She also enjoyed Aerosmith, which is what she listened to while she cleaned. I think a huge no-no today that was a “eh, whatever” when I was growing up was walking EVERYWHERE. Some days I would walk the few miles from school to my house because the bus ride was annoying. Walked home one day during a tornado warning. Parents did NOT appreciate that…
Posted by whencrazymeetsexhaustion | March 7, 2013, 8:47 amI’m guessing we were separated at birth? It all started with the Kielbasa thing way back when. And who could forget Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion, one of the BEST songs EVER recorded! As for the walking everywhere bit, this cavalier way of life seems so CRAZY looking back now. But, walking during a tornado, I gotta say that’s even pushing the envelope too far. I’m sure your parents were relieved when you walked through that door. Poor baby!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 8:57 amThe fact that you even used the word “cavalier” is further proof that we are, in fact, kindred spirits: my school mascot was the Cavalier. (P.S. I am terrified of storms, bad weather, etc. so the fact that my dumb ace was walking around oblivious during a warning is as much ironic as it is ridiculous!)
Posted by whencrazymeetsexhaustion | March 7, 2013, 10:12 amI used to baby-sit at age 11. Looking back, I am thinking, “Who the hell trusted a scrawny 11 year-old to be responsible for their kids?!” I did a good job though, swear. No children ever ended up playing with knives… or at least that is what I am sticking with.
My dad also used to let me sit on his lap in the neighborhood and steer the car when I was like 13. Come 14 I was driving while he sat in the passenger seat. No permit or anything! Crazy, huh?
Posted by becca3416 | March 7, 2013, 8:51 amBecca, from what I know about you, I’m sure you were one AWESOME babysitter! You’re ‘responsibility and over-the-top fun’ wrapped into one. Though I’m glad to hear that no kids got injured on your watch. Whenever I babysat my siblings, I spent most of my time on the couch watching Mtv. That’s when Mtv stilled aired music videos.
As for the car thing, your dad clearly had no qualms about letting your drive early. Did you ever learn to drive stick-shift? That’s one thing I always too scared to try. I couldn’t switch gears in my head fast enough!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 9:03 amOh hell no! I was scared of manual too. Still haven’t tried, although one day I think it would be fun to learn. In an open field. With three miles of nothing in any direction.
Posted by becca3416 | March 7, 2013, 9:07 amPerhaps we can put it on our bucket list. And, if the opportunity presents itself, just make sure we don’t practice in a car of our own. By the way, so good to hear from you sunshine girl!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 9:10 amI’ve been slacking on my reading, but I will always be around ma’am! Don’t ever doubt it!
Posted by becca3416 | March 7, 2013, 9:20 amOh boy, this brings back memories.
My grandfather let me try coffee at age 5. Which is probably why I am 5’5″ at age 27 and have a coffee addiction. Haha!
Posted by DaydreamsinWonderland | March 7, 2013, 9:36 amIsn’t that wild? I’ve heard that coffee can stunt your growth too. If I started drinking java at age five, I would be in rehab. I can’t imagine kicking my coffee habit and it’s not even two decades old!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:25 pmWell, thankfully I didn’t consume coffee ALL of those years. I just tried it at 5 & liked it. I didn’t start regularly drinking it until I was about 15.
Oh jeez, imagine that though? I’d probably be constantly trembling & never sleep!
Posted by DaydreamsinWonderland | March 7, 2013, 5:43 pmthat brings so many great memories back!! although thousand miles apart we seemed to have spent our childhood in similar manner http://wonderlandbytatu.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/growing-up-in-the-80s/ thanks for taking me back!
Posted by wonderlandbytatu | March 7, 2013, 10:07 amOut of all the things my mum let me do, the one that I will always be thankful for, was the fact that from fourth grade on, she trusted me to make my own schedule. I could play when I wanted, eat when I wanted, study when I wanted. I would like to believe that it made me independent and I felt less pressured:) I used to call it the side effects of having two working parents. When I see parents micromanaging their kids nowadays, I shudder.
Posted by Amba | March 7, 2013, 10:10 amAmba, I applaud your mom for empowering you at such a young age. Unfortunately, many of today’s parents don’t give their children enough credit. Parents aren’t always in the habit of treating their kids with dignity and respect. It sounds like your home environment prepared you for the real world!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:12 pmMy parents were pretty strict. We were only allowed *unfrosted* pop tarts (because that makes them suddenly healthy). I wouldn’t subject my kids to those.
We were definitely allowed and encouraged to play in the streets though. In fact, if we tried to stay inside and watch TV during summer break, my dad would go outside and disconnect the cable (ugh).
Posted by Jill Pinnella Corso | March 7, 2013, 10:14 amI can’t imagine your sweet dad disconnecting the cable! Is this the same guy that helped fix the ceiling fan? Then again, our parents had to keep their sanity somehow. Kicking the kids out of the house was probably the quickest remedy!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:15 pmHe just didn’t want my sister and me to become lazy bums. But we were teenagers, so that was bound to happen anyway.
Posted by Jill Pinnella Corso | March 7, 2013, 3:17 pmMy dad was the same. In fact, he actually used those words, “lazy bums.” My parents were relaxed in some ways but not in others. For instance, bringing home a ‘B’ letter grade was absolutely unacceptable!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:20 pmFirst, I never ate pop tarts till after giving birth to my son…then, the s’mores flavor was my fave for a mid-morning snack. I was always so hungry from nursing!
Yes, roaming the neighborhood on bikes was common. Playing in the woods alone…sledding alone…I hardly let my kids get 20 feet away from me now. I bought ice cream from the ice cream truck as a kid, yet as a mom I actually ushered my son inside when I heard it because I hadn’t liked the “look” of the driver last time I saw it. Times have certainly changed. Now I’m having to gear up for “lots of my friends have phones/iPods/tv’s of their own….” Not going there!!
Posted by amphomma | March 7, 2013, 10:59 amAlison, I remember the legendary ice cream truck! Back then, my mom didn’t even bat an eye if we purchased ice cream alone. Now, I wouldn’t dream of letting my children run into the street to buy treats from a stranger. I’m with you on the whole ipod/iphone issue too. My children will not have a cell phone until it is absolutely necessary. And by necessary I mean they have to be older than seven!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:49 pmYes, yes, and yes! I have raised my children so differently from how I was raised. Some of it, I’m grateful to know “better,” but there are other moments I wish I didn’t. That they could know/have known the freedom of letting the sun be curfew. Would you believe I have never bought Pop Tarts for my kids?
Posted by mrs fringe | March 7, 2013, 1:03 pmI too wish my kids could’ve had a small taste of playing till the streetlights came on. It’s just not an option in today’s unpredictable world. One thing I would’ve never predicted is you NOT buying Pop-Tarts for your kids. You’re the only mother I know, thus far, who has THAT much will power. Kudos to you!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:10 pmI dunno if I’d call it will power, lol. Frozen waffles, on the other hand…I like to tell myself that the whole wheat ones really are healthy.
Posted by mrs fringe | March 7, 2013, 3:19 pmI like your thinking. Whole wheat waffles definitely have a better ring to it. That is, until you drizzle them with maple syrup!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:22 pm
Posted by mrs fringe | March 7, 2013, 3:40 pmI was relating 100% to these until I got to your last one. My mom was kind of a slave driver. But, I love this list. Lots of childhood memories in that list.
Posted by fakingpictureperfect | March 7, 2013, 1:17 pmOh, Meredith, a “slave driver” mom must have been tough. Then again, I don’t know what’s worse. When I got married I didn’t realize that dark clothes had to be washed on cold!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:06 pmyes, I knew how to cook and clean. And when I say clean, I mean do crazy things like clean the blinds with a toothbrush. Yours is definitely better.
Posted by fakingpictureperfect | March 7, 2013, 3:15 pmYikes–a toothbrush! I couldn’t imagine using a toothbrush for anything other than brushing teeth.
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:17 pmI was on my own a lot as a kid…. so pretty much everything!
Posted by The Hook | March 7, 2013, 1:23 pmSounds like things turned out okay for you, Hook. It’s safe to say we’re all fairly functioning adults by now!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:04 pmOh, those were the days. I’m sad my kids don’t get to run around the way we did as kids. They say kids are missing out on how to problem solve, because back then kids figured out how to do things on their own. Now I think parents do everything for their kids, which remind me, I need to give my kids chores, Anka.
Posted by The Bumble Files | March 7, 2013, 3:35 pmYou’re absolutely right, Amy. This generation needs a serious wake up call. Most parents are raising their children with a sense of entitlement, which ultimately doesn’t prepare them for the real world. As for the chore thing, I’m guilty of the same thing. I have yet to enforce a strict set of chores. Part of me just wants to let my kids be kids and enjoy their youth!
Posted by Anka | March 7, 2013, 3:39 pmI was born in the late 80′s, so I mostly remember the 90′s but in my town kids still walked or biked miles on their own, we always spent our allowance at the corner store, and even bought some candy cigarettes of our own! I also remember listening to madonna at 11.. I don’t think I understood any of her songs but I knew all the lyrics! Also I started babysitting OTHER people’s kids at 11! Crazy. I am not a parent yet, but I’ve been around young kids and am astonished at how it’s changed!
Posted by pittiesforyourthoughts | March 7, 2013, 7:16 pmI’m glad you got to experience the candy cigarettes. I wonder if liquor stores even sell them anymore. I can’t imagine many parents endorsing these candies. As for Madonna, she was legendary back in the day. I remember wanting to buy a pair of lace gloves so badly when I was a kid!
Posted by Anka | March 8, 2013, 5:21 pmHa! My kids BEG me go buy poptarts as a snack! It’s still a no for me, despite the fact we got to eat every sugar coated contraption that was ever processed.
Someone asked me just the other day who my favorite singer was. Hands down, Madonna. I would still travel and pay a ridiculous amount of money to see her live!
We got the endless pop and play all evening stuff too. My mom kept bowls and bowls of candy just laying around the house. There was never any in her house, so she went a little overboard. Also, there was no concern for ‘screen time.’ We had TVs in every room that were left on all the time. We could watch whatever we wanted!
Posted by Kerry's Organized Chaos | March 8, 2013, 3:50 amKerry, you’re a strong woman! I totally cave when it comes to pop-tarts, partly because I enjoy eating them too. I’m guessing you danced to “Material Girl” quite a few times growing up, right? When I was in the sixth grade, I actually performed to “Get into the Grove” for the school talent show. Black lace gloves, yellow neon shirts and all!
Posted by Anka | March 8, 2013, 5:31 pmThat is awesome! Please tell me you have a copy!! We has to make a music video in 6th grade. Mine was to Lucky Star!
Posted by Kerry's Organized Chaos | March 11, 2013, 5:28 pmThe playing in the streets: You never hear parents yelling out the front door anymore: “Joooooohhhhnyyyyyyyy!!! Diiiiiiiiinneeerrrr!!” I suppose even if kids were playing in the streets they’d just text, but still…
Posted by The Byronic Man | March 8, 2013, 2:46 pmPlaying outdoors was the BEST! I remember my mom hollering for us kids to come in and we would never listen. We always begged for a few more minutes. And you’re right, parents probably just text their kids now. A sad commentary on how technology interferes with good old fashion communication.
Posted by Anka | March 8, 2013, 5:35 pmGoing back another generation to the fifties, my Mam remembers a time when all of the kids were sent outside for the day and they used to roam around the huge park of a manor estate nearby. They came home for meals.
I remember when my little brother was born, the pram would be put (minus wheels) on the back seat of our little fiat. I used to either perch behind the middle of the two front seats or else on the tiny edge that was left by the pram. There were no car seats and probably no seat belts to hold them in!
I regularly bought cigarettes for my mother. We used to go to the same park my mother went to by ourselves – despite the fact that it was a thirty to forty minute walk away.
Crispy pancakes were the nutritional faux pas… they had some meat-gravy-like goo inside, my brother would eat nothing else. I escaped only because I’m coeliac. Mind you – potato waffles… and they are still a staple feature in most houses now…
Posted by emmacconway | March 9, 2013, 1:05 amOh, Emma, those crispy pancakes sound divine! Anything with a gravy like goo has got to be delicious. As for walking to a park that’s forty minutes away, we did the same thing growing up. Our moms probably didn’t even bat an eye when we left the house. Times sure have changed!
Posted by Anka | March 13, 2013, 7:29 pmMy kids actually play till the streetlights go on many nights, though no one else does. When I called a girl down the street to babysit for us, she asked if my kids were the ones outside all the time. Isn’t that hilarious? I may have to write a post about that.
Posted by muddledmom | March 11, 2013, 5:59 amKaren, you definitely need to write a post about your kids playing outside till the streetlights come on. It’s like a lost relic. No ONE I know allows their kids to run freely about the neighborhood. I think it’s unfortunate because I have some great memories from playing outdoors!
Posted by Anka | March 13, 2013, 7:25 pmI rarely wore a seatbelt as a child. I think only one of my friends’ mother routinely made everyone wear seatbelts, and she was the “strict” mom. Would I ever let my child ride without a belt unless there was some sort of special circumstances? Hell no.
Posted by The Cutter | March 14, 2013, 11:36 amHa! Every neighborhood had a “strict” mom. I remember my girlfriend’s mom. She wouldn’t even let her daughter venture to the corner park alone. Guess she was ahead of her time. And, I’m with you, there’s NO WAY my kids would ever ride without a seat belt in this day and age!
Posted by Anka | March 14, 2013, 6:26 pmGreat list! Shows you had a great time growing up!
I had unlimited access to sugary drinks. In fact I almost never drank plain water. Ever. But that’s changed now. I’ve realised how unhealthy it is. For my waist especially. Haha. Funny thing was that this rule seemed to apply only to me. With my brothers my mum was very strict on drinking water.
Posted by rynnasaryonnah | March 18, 2013, 4:56 amThat’s funny, Rynna! I never drank plain water growing up either. My kids get orange juice but I always dilute it with a little H2O. I’m definitely like your mom, very strict with my children’s sugar intake!
Posted by Anka | March 24, 2013, 6:57 pm