Updated: November 19, 2020
Originally Published: March 22, 2015
I’ve often reflected on the amusing gap between nearing my 40s while still feeling like I’m in my teens—maybe 18 or even 21. But now and then, reality hits me hard when I see how drastically different the world is for my kids, Ava and Noah, compared to my own childhood. Those nostalgic lists of things that kids from the ’70s can relate to always bring me a good chuckle. However, Ava and Noah are true children of the 21st century, and here’s how you can tell:
- They adore talking on the phone—not just on speaker, but they also embrace FaceTime as if it’s second nature. I recently had a chat with someone in their 60s who held the phone to their ear during a FaceTime call, leaving me amused at how far we’ve come from the days of the kitchen landline with its twisty cord.
- Charging devices is a foreign concept to them until the battery is almost dead. I, on the other hand, start worrying around the 70% mark and look for a plug frantically.
- Their obsession with YouTube is unending. It’s their first stop for music or video—always.
- Scented items are everywhere! Ava loves enveloping herself in clouds of her favorite perfume. Personally, I stick to unscented products; less glamorous, but also less overwhelming.
- Car seats are so standard in modern America that cars are designed with built-in tethers to secure them. Back in my day, I relished the thrill of bouncing around the “way back” of the car, completely unrestrained!
- The idea of TV shows airing at specific times is utterly alien to them. I remember eagerly waiting for Friday nights to watch my favorite shows at 8 o’clock, while Ava and Noah just click whatever they want to watch. And what’s a VCR? They’ve never even heard of it!
- Mimeograph machines? They wouldn’t recognize one if it hit them. The smell of those purple-tinged pages brings back memories for me, while Ava and Noah simply log into their class’s Google Drive for assignments.
- Their ability to suspend disbelief is pretty minimal. Recently, while watching an old classic like The Princess Bride, Ava scoffed at the “Rodents of Unusual Size,” clearly unable to accept the special effects from my childhood.
- For them, photography is limitless. When we discussed getting a disposable underwater camera, Noah asked if we needed to buy memory cards for it. They were shocked to learn that you only had 27 exposures and had to wait for development—how foreign!
- They don’t remember a single phone number. I can still recall my childhood home number and a few friends’ numbers, but Ava and Noah have everything programmed into their devices.
- Map reading is a lost art. My dad always insisted it was a vital skill, but Ava and Noah just rely on GPS to get us anywhere without a second thought.
If you’re a parent from the ’70s raising a child in today’s world, perhaps you can relate. For more insights into parenting and home insemination, check out this post on intracervicalinsemination.com. And if you’re interested in more information about home insemination kits, CryoBaby is an authority on this topic. For additional resources regarding pregnancy and home insemination, WebMD offers excellent guidance.
In summary, parenting in this digital age presents a unique set of challenges as we navigate the vast differences between our childhood experiences and those of our children. From technology to cultural norms, the generational gap can be amusing and thought-provoking.