The Challenges and Joys of 90s Parenting: Insights from a Millennial Mom
As a Millennial mom raising kids in the current decade, it’s fascinating to take a step back and reflect on what parenting must have been like for our own parents, who navigated the 90s. It was an era when technology was rapidly evolving, pop culture was influencing kids’ lifestyles in unprecedented ways, and the gender gap, race issues, and social inequality were becoming everyday talking points. Here are some insights on the joys and challenges of 90s parenting that I have unearthed from conversations with my parents and through my research.
The Technology Gap
To most modern parents, technology is both a bane and a boon. But the 90s came with unique challenges that seem archaic now. Cell phones weren’t as ubiquitous as they are today, and internet access was limited. So, how did parents keep track of their kids? Most homes had landlines, and parents had to communicate with each other and their kids through this mode of communication. If kids were away from home, parents used pagers to keep in touch. Parenting was less about tracking your kids’ movements using GPS devices and more about trust and communication.
The Pop Culture Craze
One of the most significant cultural markers of the 90s was the rise of pop culture. Children growing up in this decade had ready access to movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity culture. Most of these forms of entertainment revolved around the teens and young adults of the era, with kids scrambling to copy the fashion, style, and mannerisms of their favorite stars. Parents, on the other hand, had to keep up with these trends and ensure that their kids remained grounded and responsible.
Raising Affluent Kids
The 90s marked the beginning of the dot-com boom, and the country had just emerged from an economic recession. This period of relative affluence brought about its challenges for parents. Many of them had to navigate issues such as managing their kids’ expectations of extravagance, teaching them financial responsibility, and the effects of exposure to rampant consumerism.
Gender, Race, and Social Issues
The 90s were also a decade of cultural flux and change. Children were growing up in a time when identity politics, race issues, gender equality, and social class were discussed more openly. Parents had to actively teach their kids about tolerance, compassion, and the need for social justice. They had to ensure that their children did not internalize stereotypes based on their gender and race and the socio-economic class they belonged to.
The Joy of Simplicity
Despite the challenges that parents faced in the 90s, there was a sense of simplicity and wholesomeness that imbued the era. With children receiving less screen time and gadget-based entertainment, they spent more time outdoors and engaging in physical activities. Board games, books, and family outings were sources of amusement that brought everyone together. The familial bond was the strongest glue that bound families together.
In conclusion, parenting in the 90s was both significantly different and strangely similar to modern-day parenting. Parents had to handle many of the same challenges that we face today, such as raising responsible kids, teaching them values, and dealing with the complexities of cultural issues. However, they did so without the current-day tech that is ubiquitous today. As Millennial moms, we can learn a lot from our experiences of 90s parenting. We must strike a balance between the joys of simplicity and the allure of tech and balance our kids’ exposure to pop culture with their social and moral education.
