Ah, the golden days of yore, when life was simpler and our biggest worries were whether our Walkman would skip while we were trying to get our breakdancing moves just right. I mean, how can we forget the thrill of flipping through the channels and seeing actual music videos on MTV instead of whatever reality TV trainwreck has taken over our screens today? “Is that a real band or just a TikTok sensation?” I often ponder as I pull out my hair over the latest “influencer.”
Let’s take a moment to recognize the absolute genius of living in a world where the biggest scandal involved whether or not Ferris Bueller got away with skipping school (spoiler: he did). Nowadays, your kid’s biggest rebellion is questioning why there isn't a TikTok for that. Remember when we thought parenting books were a crime against humanity because every ounce of wisdom we required was stored in an issue of *Teen Beat*? Now, it seems every other parent’s worth their weight in “online courses” and “life hacks.” Pfft. Yeah right. You’re telling me someone makes money teaching how to build a sensory playroom for their toddlers? I’m still trying to figure out how gummi bears are a main food group and how not to microwave pizza rolls for eleven minutes by accident (you know, the essentials).
And let’s not gloss over the weird, wonderful world of tech we had back in the day. Remember when your biggest dilemma was whether to ask someone to “beep” you on your pager after school vs. hearing the sweet sounds of the newly released *Super Mario* on NES? Ah yes, a time when a trip to the mall was less about fighting for Wi-Fi and more about seeing how many friends you could cram into a photo booth without losing an arm—bonus points for the ugly faces!
In retrospect, every time someone waxes poetic about how “things were better back then,” I can’t help but roll my eyes and think, “Sure, Grandma.” Newsflash, kiddo, the past was not all neon-colored sunglasses and cassette tapes. But hey, at least we didn’t have to listen to someone’s IG story about their matcha latte while trying to navigate a landline phone with a tangled cord from the 90s. So here’s to us, the survivors of that gloriously awkward, cringe-inducing time known as Generation X. We may be jaded, but we’ve still got a sense of humor—and probably a stash of VHS tapes somewhere.