As a member of the older millennial generation, I find myself reminiscing about a time that seems utterly alien to my young child, who is just a toddler. Growing up on the edge of the digital revolution, I experienced life before social media, smartphones, and even the internet. It’s fascinating—and a bit amusing—to think about how many things were part of my childhood that my son will find hard to believe.
In his world, tablets and instant streaming are the norm. He can’t comprehend that I used to watch the same TV shows he enjoys. As he gets older, the technological and cultural divide between us will only widen. Soon, he’ll inquire about the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s much like I ask my parents about the ’70s. I find myself constantly adding to a list of things he might find unbelievable. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
- Dial-Up Internet
Imagine needing to use a phone line to connect to the internet! The sound of that screeching modem will be foreign to him. - Landline Phones
He’ll be shocked to learn that we used to have phones tethered to the wall. You couldn’t just take your phone with you; leaving home meant leaving your phone behind! - Beepers
Before smartphones, beepers were all the rage—unless you were a doctor, you had to find a payphone to respond to a page. - Pay Phones
Random phones on street corners? You only needed a quarter to make a call? Unbelievable! - Answering Machines
Before voicemail, we had tape recorders that would save your messages. The thrill was racing to the machine to check messages before someone else did. - Cassette Tapes
At his age, I was all about cassette tapes. Carrying my Walkman to school made me feel like a superstar. - CDs
By the time I hit third grade, CDs became the go-to format, and I amassed a hefty collection over the years. - VHS Tapes/VCRs
I still miss my extensive Disney VHS collection. Sure, they were bulky and required constant rewinding, but they were a treasure, especially for marathons of long movies like Titanic. - Video Rental Stores
Nothing beat the excitement of heading to Blockbuster on a Friday night to rent a movie—unless someone forgot to rewind it! - Butterfly Clips
The coolest hair accessory during my tween years! I often used them to jazz up my sneakers rather than my hair. - Sanrio Characters
While Hello Kitty is still popular, characters like Keroppi and Badtz-Maru are virtually unknown to this generation. Sanrio boutiques are a thing of the past. - MTV’s TRL
Remember when MTV actually played music videos? Kids today will never know the thrill of standing outside the MTV building in Times Square waiting to catch a glimpse of celebrities. - Dunkaroos
These sugary snacks were a lunchtime staple—tiny cookies with frosting! Today, they’d probably be deemed inappropriate for school lunches. - Beanie Babies
We thought these little plush toys would be worth a fortune! Now they just sit in attics gathering dust. - T.G.I.F. Shows
While some classic shows like Full House have returned, nothing beats the excitement of old-school T.G.I.F. programming. - Saturday Morning Cartoons
Waking up on Saturday morning to sugary cereal and cartoons like DuckTales or Recess was a rite of passage. ABC had the best lineup, hands down.
It’s a bit of a letdown that I didn’t keep more of these items. The only way my child will likely see them is in a museum someday. It reminds me of a line from Clueless: “The way I feel about the Rolling Stones is how my kids will feel about Nine Inch Nails. So maybe I should stop teasing my mom about Mick Jagger.” Ah, growing up—such a strange journey.
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In summary, the nostalgia I feel for these outdated items highlights a significant generational gap. As technology evolves, so do our experiences and memories, making it a fun yet bittersweet exploration of the past.