When I was a kid…

Today I found this quote going around my facebook circle:

When I was a kid, I didn’t have a laptop, iPod, Blackberry, PS3, Wifi or designer clothes. I played outside with friends, bruised my knees, made up stories and played hide and seek. I ate what my mom made, and would think twice before I say “no” to my parents! Life wasn’t hard, it was good & I survived.Re-post this if you appreciate the way you were raised. Thanks Mom and Dad, for making me who I am today. 🙂

It’s quite interesting of how many people are liking this, because at least in my opinion, it isn’t true.

When I was a kid, I didn’t have a laptop… it’s true. Back then, computers was still the size of a room (yes, I’m not that young). Not that I didn’t have a computer. My dad eventually got us an x86 computer, with 16MB of RAM (How cool is that?). I love it! I could do a lot of things on them (mostly playing games though), but most importantly, it made me feel very adept to computers (which in the end got me to be an Interactive Media Designer). So I really didn’t think a laptop is a bad thing for kids. Computer knowledge = survival skill.

When I was a kid, I didn’t have an iPod… true, but I got a Walkman! You know, that cool thing with cassettes?


That one had an FM/AM radio, mine wasn’t… but you got the point. (Picture taken from wikipedia)

When I was a kid I didn’t have a Blackberry… well, actually I would rather have an iPhone if I was a kid. At least a cool Android phone with lots of games and videos! I can’t say anything about this, since my house didn’t have even a landline until I was in 7th grade or something. Was I happier? Sometimes I did wish I could know why my mom was late, was she in stuck in traffic? Or I wished I could tell her I’d love to spend an extra hour at my friend’s birthday party. Then again, mobile phones are the things you can live without, if and only if you’ve never had them before.

When I was a kid I didn’t have a PS3, … Wifi? How does a kid know what’s a Wifi? I’m just going to assume they meant Wii. Made more sense. Actually, back then, games are… most likely in the form of this

(Picture taken from here) Actually, I didn’t have one. My parents never let me buy one of those. Nor they ever bought any of the gaming devices (Atari, PS, Nintendo). Eventually we got a PC. I played Tetris and Paratrooper on PC. My parents always spoiled me when it comes to  books though. I think everyone still spoiled me with books, even now. I know some people argue that reading is better than playing games… but I like them both and I’d rather not choose just one thing for the rest of my life.

When I was a kid, I didn’t have designer clothes. Not so true… I might not have Marc Jacobs kids, but I have nice decent stuff that looked good! At some point, I got myself a very cool L.A. Gear shoes! Kids learn from their parents, I guess. My friends had more designer stuff than I did, but this happened throughout life anyways :).

I played outside with friends, bruised my knees, made up stories and played hide and seek. Well, it’s true, I did all of that although I hated the bruised my knees part. I wonder if kids really don’t do this anymore? I admit I might play less outside than my parents did… but it was alright, I think.

I ate what my mom made, and would think twice before I say “no” to my parents! HAHAHAHA… Tell this to my mom and she’ll laugh. I was a very picky eater and an opinionated child. I said “no” MANY times! I’m lucky I have wonderful parents who would put up with my tantrums! Love you mama papa <3

I really appreciate the way I was raised. Couldn’t ask for a better mom and dad <3. They are the parents of awesome which made them super awesome!

I just don’t think we had it easier/harder than the previous/next generation. Everyone has their own challenges, thats all!

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5 Comments

  1. Cat July 7, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    Well, I’m a few *cough cough* years older than you and things were different for me.
    For example I still remember running around with a radio/cassette player because there was no Walkman at that time. I think I got my first one when I was 18. There’s nothing like the metallic sound of an old cassette player and nothing more fun than repairing a beloved cassette AND succeeding, though 😉
    I remember our first computer, a Schneider CPC 6128. Very cool. So cool they had their own disks which wouldn’t fit any other computer. I was 21 then, I might have to add.
    Still life could be pretty hard then. We had to share a pair of roller skates. Can you imagine going down a hill on one roller skate? When we came to the road, we’d just drop, it was the only way to stop. But hey, I survived! Obviously *g*
    You are right, life was harder then and it was easier, too. It always depends on your point of view, on what you want and especially on what you need …..

    Reply
    1. astrid July 7, 2011 at 7:22 pm

      Hehe I still remember repairing cassettes too! Not to mention it’ll get worn down if you play it too often :D.

      I think if we go back to that time, it’ll most likely feels harder. But back then we didn’t know there’ll be a music player that fits on your pocket (and makes phonecalls too).

      Btw, you’re very courageous with the rollerblades. I had them but never mastered it properly :p.

      Reply
  2. Patrick July 7, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Nice post. I think you’re absolutely right. Every generation in history spends time complaining about how kids today have it easy, with all their new fangled stuff. Cave men probably said it about the wheel. “Back in my day, we had CARRY our crops to the market.”

    I battle with my kids (ages 16 and 11) about some of this stuff, but they’re not so different from what I was like.

    Reply
  3. lolita July 8, 2011 at 1:09 am

    That is sooo trueee. Back then the definition of playing is riding ur bikes together, pretend plays, hide and seek, rounders, ‘dakon’ and all sort of games that let u go outside and interracts with people. Lucky I didn’t have any computer till I was 10. I think if I had had them on my toddler like my kids now I would have stayed at home a lot considering am not that keen into large groups 😀 anyway having an ASD kid made me realize that playing outside IS important, so eventhough my kids have their laptops and ipad I make sure they go outside evryday for biking, ride their scooters, playing badmnton or just hang around with their friends..
    I still never buy any desgner clothes though, my parents believe u got to save, and its just kinda stick deep in my head..U won’t die without all that fancy things, rite?
    I didn’t like vegetables but ate whatever my mom made merely because I got skin rashes when I didn’t eat enough veggies but I let my kids chose and ended up I got 2 extremely picky eaters 🙁 *sigh* one thing I’d never forget is my folks made sure I didn’t ate many MSG stuffed snacks coz they really believe its poisonous ! I remember we had to hide to buy those chickies and taros 🙂
    Anyhow I believe that my childhood is great, I had a superb family and my parents gave me enough everything to have a greater life ahead :)Thanks Mom and Dad, for making me who I am today. 

    Reply
  4. Robert McKay July 19, 2011 at 3:54 am

    Every generation likes to think that their generation had it harder than the one before it. In most cases it’s true. That’s what we like to call progress.

    It really irritates me though, when people act like that progress is a bad thing. I don’t begrudge younger generations all the things that they grew up with that didn’t exist when I was a kid. I love thinking about how hard it will be to explain what an 8-track is when I’m 75.

    “It’s like a big cassette tape”

    “What’s a cassette tape?”

    “Awww, nevermind, go play with your holodeck, kid.”

    Reply

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