As I reminisce about my middle school years, I’m trying to remember how we expressed our crushes. Did we pass notes with “Will you be my girlfriend?” and check boxes, or did we write sweet messages on someone’s hand? Perhaps we gifted slap bracelets? Honestly, my memory is a bit foggy—it was only 1995, after all, but it feels like a lifetime ago.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve realized just how much time has passed—24 years, to be precise. So, what are kids doing these days to signal romantic interest? Well, I recently discovered the answer: scrunchies.
Yes, those vibrant hair accessories that were all the rage back in ’95 and are now making a comeback among the youth, especially with VSCO girls. It seems that if a girl has a crush on a boy in junior high, she gives him one of her scrunchies, which he then wears on his wrist. This trend gained significant attention thanks to a viral Facebook post by a North Carolina mom, Sarah Thompson, who shared a “PSA to ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRL MOMS!” Her post resonated widely, garnering nearly 45,000 shares and even landing her an interview on Good Morning America. Many moms across the country have reached out to thank her for clarifying the scrunchie phenomenon.
Sarah found multiple scrunchies in her dryer and, instead of jumping to conclusions or turning to Google, she simply asked her son. To her surprise, he shed light on this trendy gesture. For any parent, especially one with a middle schooler, such openness is impressive, as kids often communicate less than we hope for—usually responding with eye rolls and requests for snacks.
I, too, have a nearly 13-year-old son, and I’ve yet to see any scrunchies on his wrist. This leads me to wonder about a few possibilities: maybe he’s not particularly popular, or perhaps he prefers to be a free spirit, uninterested in such things. It could simply be that this trend hasn’t reached the Pacific Northwest yet.
One thing is definitely clear: scrunchies are affordable. Had I been a junior higher today, I might have shyly purchased a few, claiming I had a secret admirer from another school, much like Kevin in The Office. This brings up another question: how do middle school boys express their feelings? According to Sarah, the answer is simple: they give their hoodies to girls they like.
This isn’t shocking news, and I can’t help but reminisce about my own lost hoodie, which I still wish to have back. But as a father, I can’t help but be concerned—scrunchies may be cheap, but hoodies? Not so much. If my son starts handing those out, he’ll find himself in a chilly situation this winter, as I won’t be replacing them.
For kids who don’t fit into traditional romantic molds, I suspect the sentiment remains the same: scrunchies and hoodies are tokens of affection, and I hope they are received with the same fondness. However, now that we parents are aware of this scrunchie and hoodie exchange, it might just lose its cool factor—much like when I learned about “YOLO.” But hey, I still use it because, after all, you only live once!
As you navigate this new knowledge, my advice is to keep quiet if your child comes home wearing a few scrunchies or sporting a brand-new hoodie. Just give a knowing smile and let them experience their middle school journey.
For more insights, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination. Also, if you’re interested in home insemination, you might find this post useful, and for some great meal ideas, visit this authority on healthy dinner recipes.
In summary, scrunchies have become a modern emblem of affection among middle schoolers, with boys wearing them as tokens from girls they like. As parents, it’s important to stay informed while giving our kids the space to navigate their own relationships.