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In 1983 Ronald Reagan was president, Michael Jackson dominated the Billboard charts with his hit “Bille Jean”, Sally Ride became the first American woman to enter space, and McDonald’s introduced the Chicken McNugget. But most importantly yours truly was born. I am a child of the 80’s.
I am proud to be a child of the 80’s. I watched My Little Pony, Fraggle Rock, Rainbow Bright, Shera, and Care Bears on Saturday mornings. All I wanted for Christmas one year was Barbie’s Dream House and a crimping iron. I played with Cabbage Patch dolls, My Little Ponies, and Polly Pockets. My favorite board games were Mall Madness, Chutes and Ladders, and Operation. My favorite books were the Sweet Valley Kids series, Babysitter’s Club books, and Anne of Green Gables.
I loved to chase lightning bugs with my cousins and make houses out of pine needles in the backyard. I loved to play with paper dolls and I loved to make up stories about my stuffed animals. I also loved to play bar at my grandparents bar and mix fake drinks but that’s a whole ‘nother story…
I had a very active imagination. I like to think it’s because I actually got to use it instead of being stuck behind a tv, video game, or a computer like most kids today.
I also had a great deal of respect for my parents. When they said no about something they meant it. No arguing or talking back. I admit, I was scared of them. I was mostly afraid of disappointing them though.
I have noticed that kids today don’t really respect their parents or their teachers. I have seen it at my job some but mostly when I am in class. I have seen kids (students in college the first time around, 18-22 year olds) talk back to teachers and say such rude things that I am embarrassed for them. Just last week I witnessed someone in class call the teacher lazy. In the same class people didn’t do the assigned homework and then flipped their shit when the teacher made it worth 200 points. I also saw people talking back to the teacher and telling her she needed to go back over something she just went over…those students came in halfway through class and missed the first half when the teacher went over it.
I don’t understand people like that and I guess I never will.
I am glad I was born in the time that I was and that I was raised better than that. To all my teacher friends out there I am praying for you and I pray that all of the parents out there teach their kids some manners.
Definitely relate to the scared of disappointing your parents aspect. I want to slap most of my age demographic(the 18 to 22 year olds) because they have NO respect, like you said, but I promise, we aren’t all that way!
I totally agree!! I’m so glad I was raised to be respectful. As a mother, i have learned that it is hard to get my children to behave respectively because when they go to school they are in the minority. All they see everyday is other kids their age acting foolish and rude. I hope they do right even when every one around them chooses not to!!
Omgsh! I also watched Care Bears and My little pony. I was born in 89 but I remember watching them lol I think the shows these days for kids to watch is pure crap compared to the shows we were able to watch!
Political correctness, lack of being able to properly discipline children (i.e. whoops their butts and put the fear of got God into them), and the “everyone is special” therefore everyone should get a trophy has ruined my generation and those that have followed.
I was raised to realize life isn’t fair (nor equal). That I wouldn’t always get my way. That I’m never too big for an azz-whooping. I was encouraged to bust my tail, work hard to achieve my dreams. But, I was also told that it would take hard work to get there. I was never told I was exceptional at something I wasn’t good at – for example playing the banjo.
Kids these days are far too coddled. We need to worry less about about “hurting their self-esteem” and go back to telling it like it is. Just my two sense.