1980s Things That Parents Did!

Want to know how to be a professional 80s parent? Here is the program you have been looking for! This video will give you insight on how to be an 80s parent! If you are not completely satisfied then you can resume your normal parenting in the current decade. There is nothing to lose. Act Now!
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Mail is always welcome at:
Rhetty for History
P.O. Box 850593
Yukon, OK 73085
Join me on Instagram
/ rhettyforhistory
#80s #nostalgia #memories

[@cJayster]

I absolutely love your videos!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you watching and I appreciate the Super Thanks as well. I'm happy kntoow you are enjoying the videos!

[@rb5078]

I loved being a kid in the 80s. I got to be completely independent. Outside playing all day, doing my own thing. We knew how to occupy ourselves. Home alone all day in the summer. I knew not to answer the door and to only answer the phone after the answering machine picked up. Kids have absolutely no freedom today.

[@elid3906]

Same with the kids of the 60's & 70's ‼️

[@redlady8296]

Yeah my childhood was similar.

[@AJ72281]

I was born in 81’ and was outside all the time as a kid, even throughout the 90’s…. Always outside, but when I heard my Dad whistle, I got my ass home so I didn’t get the dreaded wooden spoon.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That freedom taught us how to be independent. It also taught us how to solve things and how not to get hurt. As you stated with answering the door there were still rules and a fine balance that was maintained. Thank you or watching and sharing your memories.

[@SuperRobbie1976]

me too

[@rogerwilcojr]

My typical phone call as a kid: "Hi, wanna play? OK, your house or mine? OK, bye."

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes! No need to be on there any longer than you have to. Thank you for watching and sharing a memory with us!

[@beckycaughel7557]

Yes or you just showed up at the door and rang the bell and said can so and so play? No setting up play dates

[@brendakrieger7000]

Exactly!

[@dano1307]

before that you would say "Hi Mrs. so and so. Is Johnny there?"

[@thepearlswirl]

The simplicity 😢

[@jeffgray7922]

"Donkey Kong sure never inspired kids to throw barrels at Italian men." Just pure gold.

[@RhettyforHistory]

At least I never knew anyone that did. They might have been part of the mob for all we knew. Thank you for watching Jeff!

[@ntal5859]

Except every poor Italian kid got called Mario even if it wasn't their name.

[@edwin5419]

As an 80s kid - this is spot on!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Edwin!

[@clearcreek69]

Drinking from the garden hose awesome.

[@MelB868]

Not for me the tv was the only thing accurate for me

[@edwin5419]

@@MelB868 were you even around through all the 80s? This was so common

[@SKvldlf]

Videos like this make me resent living in the modern world.

[@IaconDawnshire]

Modern society makes me NOT want to have children

[@somesvede]

K

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching S K!

[@chiarac3833]

I appreciate the time I grew up and I appreciate today. There are pros and cons to both.

[@itravisoni]

You can always go back to the 1980s. Don't use a mobile phone listen to records or cassette tape.

[@jeromecabral192]

I have to say the 80s were the best decade ever. Where there were no cellphones ,internet, great times

[@silkeden1]

In describing the ways of a parent at the mall: "mom would go and touch every single piece of clothing in every single store" 😆 Nailed it!

[@darthlaurel]

That made me laugh out loud!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@NomenmihiLegioest]

My mom made us hold her purse when she was shopping for clothes. Later my girlfriend gave me the same treatment lol. P.S.- on the cover of that "SuperTeen" magazine you can win a concert by Duran Duran. Hell, I Still want that today! i STILL lilke them and they are still touring! lol! i i NEVER read those magazines like TIger Beat, Teen Beat..... mostly it was girls reading those.

[@silkeden1]

@@NomenmihiLegioest I smiled imagining how your mom and later your girlfriend tasked you with holding the purse 😆 Oh yea-- same here! My mom was that shopper who scoured every stitch of clothing and it tested the patience of me and my younger brother. We often times just fell asleep under a rack of female clothing and I can hear my mom's voice hollerin for us today!

[@scrappyjunk8793]

@@darthlaurel they had to touch every piece of clothes if you interupted mom she would say i swear i never get to shop but keep right on doing it lol

[@RhettyforHistory]

My mom seemed to take forever in clothing stores as well as any fabric store she went to. Thank you for watching J G!

[@karenrosen2983]

I can’t count how many times we heard “Well, I guess you won’t do that again” after doing something stupid and got hurt 😂! In terms of music I will never forget watching the grammy awards and my mom freaked out when the Eurythmics performed for the first time- she couldn’t wrap her head around Annie Lennox but Boy George really pushed her over the edge!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Some of those acts were strange for the times but look where things are now! I remember my grandfather freaking out over what happened to Tina Turner in the 80s. The video Whats Love Got To Do With It just seemed over the top to him. I never understood that because she seemed to push boundaries when she was younger too. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@TheDoctor394]

I remember my father seeing me watch Eurythmics' video for "Sweet Dreams" (I think that was the one), with Annie Lennox looking a bit weird, and saying, "I don't know if I like you watching this kind of stuff." And I was well into teenage years by then.

[@MelB868]

In the 80’s we watched lots of cartoons I wasn’t a teenager

[@JoelEverettComposer]

No kidding; breaking an arm or a good scrape was almost a rite of passage back then. You also learned valuable lessons such as: don't do stupid stuff, and gravity is real.

[@TheDoctor394]

@@JoelEverettComposer Having worked in childcare for much of my life, I have argued for years that, in protecting children from danger all the time, we're potentially putting them in more danger, since they have less opportunities to gain the abilities to take care of themselves and, therefore, are more likely to get hurt.

[@wendygore2709]

This made me happy & sad at the same time. I really miss the 80's 😢 It truly was an awesome time 😎❤️

[@RhettyforHistory]

It sure was Wendy. Thank you for watching!

[@christhefampederson2324]

Same here

[@chiarac3833]

I'm just grateful that I experienced it first hand.

[@Cocpain]

don't romanticize things you don't totally remember. I am in my 40's, and I remember the 80's, it was alright, but we were inspired for what the future would be like, now that it is here, and we couldn't really see all the outcomes, we want to get on our highhorse. we are the reason we are here... it wasn't the generation that came before us, we did it, for better or worse.

[@marynebotakis821]

Same here, it made happy 😊, nostalgic, and then a little sad 😢. We were so lucky to grow up in this time- I wish our kids could have experienced this- a true validation of how much our world has changed - society, technology and fashion - unfortunately for the worse. Thank you so much for this video ❤

[@johnnygee4206]

With most kids owning cell phones now, the 80's were the last decade of the "dinnertime holler". Right around 6-6:30 in the evening, there'd be a neighborhood chorus of parents hollering out their windows for their kids to come running home for dinner. My Mom's impressive bellow could easily be heard from all four corners of our block. Even the summertime cicadas had to give a nod of respect.

[@denisegossage4694]

My dad put his fingers at the corner of his mouth to whistle the loudest signal ever, got everyone 's attention!

[@johnnygee4206]

@@denisegossage4694 Ah yes, the classic "Dad whistle". The worst was when you and your group of friends were up to no good, and then you heard it. Some kids would make a break for it, some would try the freeze and look innocent strategy, but the kids who recognized the whistle as their Dad's unique pitch would start making the long stroll towards impending doom.

[@mariawesley7583]

My aunt had a bell mounted on the house and she'd grab the rope and jerk it fast and loud. It could be heard all the way to the back street (the street that paralleled theirs).

[@RhettyforHistory]

I do remember those neighborhood summons like you are mentioning. That is definitely something that kids won't experience now. Thank you for watching and mentioning something of the decade!

[@trudieristich795]

That's so funny, yes, come in when it's dark. Or when your parent called for you to Come in And she's yelling For us to come home and our friends in the neighborhood. Thought my dad was calling LOL. My mom was like the jelly Green Giant. Everybody was kinda scared of her.

[@krisfrederick5001]

The 80's/ early 90's was the best time to be a kid. The movies, cartoons, music, toys, video games, in literally every way. I may be bias but I'm also right! This video is dead on perfect.

[@rb5078]

Yup, we had the best of the best.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and commenting Kris!

[@princessmarlena1359]

Agreed!

[@laylapaz8822]

So true my friend!

[@ananda_miaoyin]

Yes it was. We got to see it all. From airports with zero security to full on body scanners. From Space Invaders to a soul sucking surrogate electronic life. From "Father Knows Best" to the slave giving birth to her master. From tomboys to actual boys. Cap guns to school shootings. The Liberty Bell to a client state and the raw anger of American men with long arrears to make good...

[@sherristrain1835]

I was a teenager in the 80's. A lot of memories in this video.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Sherri!

[@chiarac3833]

Same and it was a great time to be a kid.

[@mamadoom9724]

I was a kid in the 80s and I always thought I would have had a blast as a teen or 20 something in the 80s. I always looked up to the teens and thought their clothes were so cool. Being a kid back then was awesome too though. I think we had the best toys, cartoons, and books.

[@javiermori1710]

How about the freedom of going to friends house unannounced? Just going there and knocking on door. Can you imagine that today? I cant. Something so simple but yet so nostalgic.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That was definitely super common. Thank you for watching Javier!

[@DoodlePoodle199]

My daughter has a friend that does this sometimes at our house… I had to tell her mother to please text me ahead of time! I feel silly doing that, but there’s sometimes when it’s not a good time! 😆

[@gooniesgirl1979]

I’m so glad my childhood covered the entire 80s. My mom had the three of us from 1970-1979. All the neighborhood kids would hang at our house and my mom would feed everyone. My dad never crashed the car with us in it. He read me bedtime stories until I got too big to sit in his lap. I never minded being with my parents. They were a little older than other people’s parents by then. I got to watch the Mr. Rogers episodes from the early 70s. I remember watching Madonna perform Like a Virgin at the MTV Video Music Awards back then.

[@RhettyforHistory]

My parents were also older than most others. I was the youngest of 3 but I had a great childhood and like you I'm happy to have grown up when I did. The freedom and things we had seem unparalleled to any other time. We had a similar childhood as previous generations but you could also see the beginnings of changes starting to happen. At the time I didn't realize it but looking back I do. Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories of how it was.

[@mommyharris1111]

Yeah remember when they wanted to band George Michael video’ I want your sex’ ? Now look at the Grammys and the crap on tv.

[@ETIKUT99]

I remember ever time you went into a restaurant, the first thing they would ask is “smoking or non smoking” I also remember sitting on my dads lap as he drove his car, renting a TV, knocking round my mates and always asking the mum “is James coming out to play”, stickers were also a big deal, I remember shinny stickers, holograms sticker’s, plus scratch and sniff stickers, you have to talk to grownups and sit there with them, we only had one TV so it was watch what mum n dad watch or nothing at all. being an 80s child has given me skills no one has today!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories with us. All of what you mentioned sounds awesome! Everyone wanted scratch and sniff stickers, erasers and markers, Not everyone had them though.

[@CoolDudeClem]

I miss those days when smartphones weren't around to rule people's lives.

[@RhettyforHistory]

It really was a lot less stressful and people had time for each other. Thank you for watching!

[@purplelove010]

Do you have a smartphone?

[@MeloraCarabas]

I remember getting yelled at for reading books. Damn books!

[@3DJapan]

All things in moderation. Smartphones are a great tool for information and entertainment but you have to know when to put it away.

[@MelB868]

I don’t I love my iPhone

[@pamelas1002]

Thanks, Rhetty, for reminding me what a subpar time we live in! 😂

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Pamela!

[@sandrashevel2137]

The 80s were the best. I loved living in that time. My parents were lucky. Today's world is awful. Going out to play seems hard for kids today.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Sandra!

[@princessmarlena1359]

Too many p in he ad parents tattling to big brother government when a mom lets her kids play on their fenced in backyard without tying a string around their waist.

[@Ragitsu]

Awful medicine. Awful internet. Awful civil rights. Awful green energy. Awful artificially generated electricity. Awful indoor plumbing. Awful today's world.

[@jediconnor9349]

The Earth has gotten hotter, so it makes sense why kids today would hate it.

[@nolamisskel]

My mom was a single mom during most of the 80s and my sister and I mostly were with our friends after school or at night. Sometimes we'd get a babysitter or she'd take us to our grandma's house. Birthday parties were at home, at the skating rink, pizza hut, or McDonald's. The urban legend I remember most is a guy in a white van driving around kidnapping kids, but we were taught to be aware and stay together. We didn't get a mall until I was in my preteen years, but if we went to one in a larger city, my mom was with us. I got lost one time and my mom freaked out. She also would let me have it if I had a hissy fit in the store and she did it in front of everyone. It was a great time to be a kid in the 80s and I miss it.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I remember going to the mall when I was younger with my mom and she was taking forever in the clothing store. I decided to crawl up under the circle clothes rack and take a nap. When my mom realized I was missing she panicked and had everyone looking for me. They went all over the mall. Someone finally found me an hour or so later. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories! White panel vans are still something I keep a watchful eye on.

[@joshua.recovers]

I love being a 90s kid still having a lot of these 80s things present in my childhood. Where I lived it was a great mix of 80s/90s to grow-up in!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing how it was for you in the 90s Joshua!

[@joshua.recovers]

@@RhettyforHistory I love your videos, brother! You keep my inner youth alive and I appreciate you!

[@NomenmihiLegioest]

Sounds like Napoleon Dynamite's Town in Idaho! LOL. I was a 70's child Agre 2-11 and 80's kid-teen-Young adult...age 12-21 At times the 70's, 80's, and 90's overlapped depending where you lived. When I live in Oahu, Hawaii we were advanced and had the newest computers, anime VHS, clothes and Japanese Imports of music and video. Here in Texas we seemed to be behind in style and tech by 5-10yrs. In the Bay area where we lived for 5yrs from 1972-77 it was way advanced

[@Epic_C]

It was the beginning of the end by that time though.

[@music_istherapy8860]

Same. I loved it

[@bastelkiste2242]

I was a kid in the 80ies in Germany and it was just the same as said in this video. A happy childhood. ❤

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and telling us how it was in Germany!

[@princessmarlena1359]

As long as it was West Germany. 😉

[@bastelkiste2242]

@@princessmarlena1359 you're right 😏

[@gregorizi]

Not really

[@darthwilly6]

except the malls

[@MikkiThaiGuy13]

Best days of my life!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Bad Friday13!

[@jofisk]

I grew up in the 80s. This video is completely true even for Aussies. I loved watching cartoons on Saturday mornings and Wonderful world of Disney on a Sunday evening with dinner in the lounge room. My parents both worked so once we got to high school we were latch key kids, so had the expectations of doing homework or going to activities. We could do anything we wanted, but had the condition that we had to leave a note by the phone or on the fridge so we knew where each family member was. My daughters have experienced a little of what this life was like as they both late 90s or early 2000s so were latch key kids after school. My youngest was dropped home via school bus and entered an empty house at nearly 6 years, she was alone for about 15 mins at the most. But today you can't even do that.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories of the 80s in Australia. I love to hear that you tried to let them have some of the same experience because I have tried to do the same thing. It's definitely changed quite a bit.

[@HGCUPCAKES]

I’m an Aussie too and I grew up in the 80s and it was most definitely like this. My mum was a single parent also. I became a latch key kids at 8. Chores when we came home from school so mum didn’t have as much to do. Was an absolutely brilliant childhood!

[@HGCUPCAKES]

And birthday parties were at hungry jacks lol. Or at home with HEAPS of party games. And blue light discos!

[@esthervaneijk4586]

As a European some things were different but man, what a wonderful time we had growing up!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Esther!

[@two4u443]

We would fry like bacon with our baby oil and iodine mixture!! The best tanning oil was Hawaiian Tropics...it smelled Heavenly!! We'd tan all day to look good and go to a concert that night. If we got burned...it was Noxema to the rescue! 🤣👍. Thank you so very much for these wonderful memories!! Great video!!♥️😁👍

[@RhettyforHistory]

I loved the smell of those tanning oils. I tried using them once and I really burnt so I never used them again. But the smell brings back memories of how other people wore them. People don't really do that anymore so the smell is a little hard to come by. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories.

[@fuzzywuzzy5749]

Lemon juice on the hair for blonds and cold coffee for the brunettes to add highlights.

[@elhombrebilingue]

My child is 1 now. Even though I lived through all of the 80's, I will be referring to these 80's videos as I raise him with the awesome 80's standards I grew up with. ❤

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching El Hombre!

[@jediconnor9349]

I think it’s awesome that you’ll bring some 80s nostalgia to your child. I wish more parents could do the same.😢

[@sandysmith9869]

Back in the early 80s, being in 7th grade, my friend and I would ride motorcycles up to a pond up in the woods to fish/camp for the weekend. Nobody around for 20 miles, and our parents were absolutely fine with it if we were gone a couple days. We were 13 years old at that time. Great awsome times.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories with us Sandy!

[@arabellathornton9386]

Gosh I miss the 80s so glad I grew up in them

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Arabella!

[@bluejedi723]

my parents, having to work on a Saturday in the 80's: Mom at breakfast: Your dad has to be at work from 9-4. I have to work from 9:30 to 5. Lunch is in the fridge. Remember dinner is at 6. And thats how a group of 10 5 to 11 year olds were left unsupervised for several hours. Babysitter? what babysitter? LOL

[@RhettyforHistory]

That is probably not happening today and if it is not much. Latchkey kids were a real thing every day. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Playing all day, riding everywhere on bikes, eating dinner with your buddy for a change and he did the same, I miss those days terribly ✌️🇺🇸

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories with us Deborah!

[@budselect71]

Yup I was born in 1971 and the 80s were the best I wish I could go back

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching budselect71!

[@SuV33358]

I agree , bud ! 1970 here

[@paulstan9828]

Ha!!! It was before the 80’s for me but I remember my mom constantly telling us “Go outside and play!” We put miles on our bikes. There definitely was no privacy on the phone. I also remember during a family road trip the baby was either in my mothers arms or laying on a blanket in a laundry basket. The next youngest was standing up in the front seat of the car with his left arm around my dads neck and his right hand was holding his baby bottle. Ha!!!

[@NomenmihiLegioest]

On a trip from Chicago to Vegas and San Francisco, and San Diego. I have a picture of my sister and I laying in the back window fighting for a good view of other cars. I also remember having to pee in a coke can LOL! My sister got to use a gas station plus she was 3yrs old I was 6.

[@paulstan9828]

@@NomenmihiLegioest Ha!!!!! Oh no I thought my family was the only one to have a pee bottle rolling around in the car. I refused to use it and would fight to hold it until my dad was forced to stop so my mom or sister had to use the bathroom.

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

My cousin and I used to ride on the armrests in my grandmother's Buick land yacht (in the 70s though). Oh that's not dangerous at all...🙄

[@paulstan9828]

@@Mick_Ts_Chick Ha!!!!

[@RhettyforHistory]

I used to loved standing up on the seat so I could see up over the dash as we were driving. I had my arm around my dad to steady myself. And of course if it was busy hectic traffic he told me to sit down. Most of the time it wasn't though. If he had to suddenly break I had that arm of his for a seat belt. I also remember laying in the back floor board. It was huge back there. Bikes were everything and they really helped you get your independence and freedom. Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories my friend!

[@alison-ip8ky]

The one thing I want to add about parents not thinking anything bad would happen if kids were out on their own was they had context that it was rare and they would warn kids. When my grandmother was growing up in rural Tennessee in the 1920s, a young girl was murdered going to school. I wondered if this was some fake story I was told as a warning, but I found newspaper articles about it. But this didn't cause my grandparents to watch over my dad and his siblings like a hawk or my dad to be a helicopter parent. I just was told about this happening and sent out the door. It wasn't necessarily "simpler times" and no one thought anything bad could happen - they just knew it wasn't likely to happen and 99.99999% of the time, kids would be fine. The mindset that's changed is trying to prevent that very small chance that something bad will happen.

[@jonsworld5307]

all its really doing is causeing kids to act out cause they cant get out of the house enjoy there self look at how much ADD cases have went up

[@RhettyforHistory]

It definitely did depend on what was happening at the current time when the kids were being raised. But it was more rare so parents still allowed freedom. I think we were all taught about the dangers and what to be careful of but we still needed to navigate thru that all. The world is full of dangers and somehow we have to adapt to it. Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@dianerobertson1759]

I think for many parents it is more the fact that other adults do not tolerate children anymore and whether we like it or not parents have to accommodate that.

[@TheDoctor394]

This is actually a good point. I'm speaking from someone who grew up in Australia and, while crime mightn't be as bad as parts of the USA, terrible things have still happened, and continue to happen, here. But I would not think the dangers are notably worse than they were decades ago, rather parents are worrying more. I wonder why this is.

[@samanthab1923]

@@RhettyforHistoryFor most of our friends the parents grew up in apts. in the city. So moving to a house in the NJ suburbs was seen as safe. My dad was the one who let us run wild. If my mom was in charge I doubt there would be all the freedom. Lots of risk taking behavior. Bikes, Mopeds, dirt bikes, skiing, skating, sledding in winter, summers spent swimming in the ocean.

[@snowcat9631]

I miss those days, if I had a time machine, I would not hesitate to go back to the 80's. All I see now-a-days are attention seeking kids crying that they aren't social media stars.... instead of helping those in trouble, all people do now is whip out their phones and record tragedies. I was never home, we socialized face to face, had many friends, went to many social events, malls, movies, etc, and had a ton of fun. I am very grateful I am not in my teens right now, it's a depressing generation to say the least.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I do remember when people rolled up their sleeves to get something done rather than just watching and complaining. I think the face to face interaction was important to have and still is. So many seem to be missing people skills. Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts.

[@snowcat9631]

@@RhettyforHistory Thank you for posting these videos, sometimes I have tears in my eyes remembering the good old days and laugh at how accurate you are, especially the shag carpets, my mom had the shag AND the rake! was so funny watching her rake that shag :)

[@prixe12]

Okay boomer

[@jediconnor9349]

I’m afraid time machines may never happen.😭

[@shanp8907]

This is awesome! I remember getting a “teen line” phone in my room that I could only call locally on. I would spend hours after bedtime talking with my best friend instead of sleeping!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and telling us about your phoneline Shannon!

[@nickimontie]

I was envious of my BFF's pink princess phone and phone line, too!

[@PettyIsMyMiddleName]

Yes I has my own phone and a beeper 📟 by middle school

[@PettyIsMyMiddleName]

@Donnell0303 Perhaps in YOUR reality, but not mine. I was the youngest and MOST of my friends had at least their own room phone or a beeper 📟. I had BOTH. My PARENTS had careers and lived in the burbs , I never knew anything about drug dealers 😳🙄

[@KatieJoMikell]

@@PettyIsMyMiddleName I had a beeper too and so did a lot of my friends I don’t know what this person is talking about because I’ve never sold drugs a day in my life but it was a form of communication back then I don’t know maybe it has something to do with family income if they were affordable but you are definitely not alone Lots of older kids and adults had pager not just doctors.

[@SuV33358]

So thankful I got to grow up in the 70s and 80s, before all this technology today. Young people now would never understand

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Sue!

[@journeytothemosthigh5021]

Today is an absolute suck fest! I feel sorry for these children of today…anyone who grew up after the 80s.

[@breathedeep2060]

Oh man do I miss the 80s! Such a great time to be a kid. Thanks Rhetty for the video!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and your right about it being a great time period!

[@xheidix1974]

Saturday mornings with cartoons and a bowl of sugar cereal were my favorite! What a time to grow up!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Those were great times! Thank you for watching Heidi!

[@NSBlack_Stallion]

Peanut butter Captain Crunch

[@fuzzywuzzy5749]

Ritz crackers straight from the box!

[@larryn1929]

This also applies to the 60's and 70's. Probably 50's as well but I was not there!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Larry!

[@cynthiablandford6213]

Aaaah yes!!

[@jolynputnam3995]

I loved it growing up in the 80s

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Jolyn!

[@Nothing-fp7jg]

Love this! I grew up in the 70s and 80s so I could really appreciate this.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and commenting on this video!

[@mlmc9464]

Love reminiscing on my childhood days. Being outside for 8-9 hours playing wiffle ball, rough tag, dodge ball or going to the creek. Staying out until street lights came on was the norm. Totally remember riding in front seat of car on oversized arm rest between my mom and dad, standing in back seat and setting in very back of station wagon in the folding seats. My parents knew I was outside but didn't know exactly where I was as long as I was home at dark. The difference between then and now is neighbors knew neighbors and which kid(s) belonged to who/where. We walked and rode our bikes in the street and talked to everyone. Yes even bad things happened in the 80's but as kids we knew what to do and not to do. We were made aware of dangers early in life and taught how to handle situations.

[@petebrown3715]

Being a teen in the 80's this is all spot on! Great times back then. Going to the arcade, comic shop then to the mall to buy some music was awesome.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing what you enjoyed Pete!

[@MelB868]

I wasn’t a teen my brother and I were young

[@sl8605]

I love the humor you put in this! Such an accurate depiction of how things were back then. Thanks Rhetty!

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and I'm glad you enjoyed the humor. Thank you for watching!

[@TopSecretVid]

The 80s were the best.

[@RhettyforHistory]

It really was a great decade. Thank you for watching!

[@Saraaaa_13]

Small town moms totally still tried to compete- everything was either posted in the newspaper, school news letters or church bulletins, and some people’s Christmas cards were basically just a rundown of how perfect their lives were 😂. Plus there were PTA/class moms lol…but they def were not as bad as today haha

[@gofishingwhenyoucan]

I wish it was still the 1980s

[@RhettyforHistory]

It really was a great decade! Thank you for watching!

[@gofishingwhenyoucan]

@Rhetty for History I think it's going to be the 80s again history is repeating itself over and over

[@robinchesterfield42]

'80s kid here. We did "Go play outdside!" but interestingly...Gen X's childhood was in many ways the _transition_ era. We weren't all video-games/all internet, all the time, but neither were we completely without those things. It was a MIX of "playing outside" and staying indoors to bust out the new Zelda game on your NES. (My first console was in fact, an actual Atari 2600). The '80s birthday parties were exactly how you described them; in fact in my case having anybody over who wasn't family was rare and I considered the kids who had their birthdays at actual restaurants or pizza places to be The Rich Kids. I didn't have a BMX bike, but I did have and absolutely love my bike. Except that one time the brakes decided to stop working, and I ended up careening into the neighbor's open (and at the moment, carless) garage and having a rake fall on me. MAN that could've been worse. Oh yeah, and I also did fall off a friend's sideless trampoline. Actually a few times. Got my foot stuck between the springs once. And MAN those things are STATICY! Such a nasty shock when I touched the metal parts after bouncing, too. (At least, if you have long hair and are in a dry environment.) I also once randomly decided to climb a mountain way too close to sunset and had to come down it in the dark, when I was 11. That was fun. (No I'm not exaggerating--an actual mountain. In Utah. I'm not sure which one.) OBVIOUSLY I made it down okay, but _man_ that was not fun. The slippery parts with loose rocks where you just kinda lost control, were terrifying. I ended up making it back to my friends' house where the slumber party was still going on, and ate Cool Ranch Doritos and did a goofy coordinated (?) dance with my friends, to "Walk Like an Egyptian". I'm not kidding, that's how damn '80s this memory was. XD Oh and uh, the example story right in this video about a little kid messing with a TV until it falls on him? YEP. That, specifically, literally happened to me. I was a dumb bored 5 year old and was lying on the floor kicking the TV stand. My mom told me to stop, I didn't listen, and she didn't realise I was kicking it THAT hard until it (a heavy CRT-screen TV, of course) had already fallen on me. Still have a little scar over my eye, where the stitches were. These were all things that my parents were of course horrified to find out _had happened_, but I wasn't overprotected and surveiled to the point where I COULDN'T do it in the first place. Good or bad? Eh...mix of both? I really don't think kids should hurt themselves badly or get traumatised, but I also think helicopter parenting is NOT the way to go. I think it's important for kids to have SOME time to themselves. ...wow. Again, sorry this turned out so long. I hope somebody enjoyed it at least a little, or at least wasn't too bored. :P

[@sebastianp.279]

That was a good read, thanks @robinchesterfield42. Being an 80's kid myself, I recognize a lot of what you wrote. Generally speaking, things seemed much less complicated. Being an adult and a dad, I realize how much more complex things are today. The 80's were much more care-free for both parents and kids and I think that's something a lot of us are missing these days. Gimme back that feeling ...

[@c1catwoman794]

Oh, I wish I could relive those days!!!!! 😢

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching c1catwoman!

[@Octavia680]

Hours. I would spend hours outdoors with my friends but my mom always know exactly where to find me because the neighbors would be looking out. It takes a village 😊

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes it does take a village. Thank you for watching Otavia680!

[@ttop64]

The thing that grabbed me most in this video were the pictures of guys and girls wearing short shorts. Ahh the 80's.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Everyone had them in the earlier part of the decade and then they got longer. Thank you for watching ttop64!

[@aariley2]

Heck I still wear tank tops and short shorts!:) Always will! HaHA! I figure the more people I can offend with my gross oldness, the better!

[@ttop64]

@@aariley2 Go for it . These days I'm seeing the hem lines on shorts starting to go up again.

[@caroleroseburgh1344]

Good Evening Rhett 🙋🏽. I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather. In the 80's your kids could play outside and you didn't have to worry about someone snatching them. Life WAS good back then.👍🏽😃

[@RhettyforHistory]

Good evening Carole! The weather was great outside and I took time to plant some things that I needed to. Thank you for watching and sharing how it was in the 80s!

[@caroleroseburgh1344]

@@RhettyforHistory you're welcome Rhett 😃👍🏽.

[@fidelrivera2887]

Lol. This is great! If you had two landlines you could listen in the other phone conversations... it was the earliest form of facebook style spying on eachother... unless you got caught and then that same phone became a weapon! It was a trully carefree time to be alive. 😊

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Fidel!

[@fidelrivera2887]

@@RhettyforHistory I love your work! Thank you

[@crashburn3292]

There were two kinds of kids in the 80's; The rare few who had their own TV and phone line in their bedrooms, and who got sweet cereal for breakfast......and the rest of us who envied them immensely.

[@Dsdcain]

I know, *right!?*

[@unicornmadness6286]

This video was spot on regarding the 1980s. I miss those day's. ❤

[@bluejedi723]

birthday party was way simpler back then. A cake and a skating rink. A cake and Mcdonalds. Cake + the YMCA pool. Awesome birthday. and no, it didn't cost a fortune.

[@nolamisskel]

Yes! I had both! Oh the skating rink parties were so much fun.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Blue Jedi!

[@sebastianp.279]

Alternatively, a basement and a mom being the referee for some kids party games like sack race did the job. (can't do that anymore, because imagine a kid could get hurt!)

[@SharonThib-o-dew]

I was a 70's kid, but my baby bro was an 80's kid for sure. I still love the music and movies.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Nanny!

[@scottjgray83]

I recall my neighbours helping each other growing up. There was a genuine interest in each other and if something went wrong, everyone jumped to do what they could. Where I stay now, people dont even talk to one another. I find it weird how unfriendly everyone is. I say hi now and then, its receved with a forced smile and a "why it he talking to me" vibe.

[@stanford-nf4jk]

Another great thing about being a kid in the 80s is being able to listen to all of your parents’ vinyls that they’d long forgotten about. If our patents were watching the one tv we had or it was too hot to play outside they’d put on their old Motown, disco, and what is now known as classic rock albums to help us pass the time. Then we’d have to get mom or dad to flip the record over because we weren’t allowed to handle them so we wouldn’t scratch them.

[@RhettyforHistory]

They usually had a lot of really good music. Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories with us Stanford!

[@jamesday9701]

Even though I believe you've mentioned in other similar videos, one of the things not mentioned here that I loved about being an 80s kid was being a "latchkey" kid.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That was definitely a big thing. Thank you for watching James!

[@GENXPERIENCE]

This has to be MY FAVORITE SHOW of yours, so far. Thank you for this...your channel is the Time Machine I need. I wish that parents of today would watch this and take some notes, lol.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and I'm glad to know you enjoyed the episode!

[@daltxn]

Mr. Rogers was all we needed to know/learn

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Dallas Texan!

[@fuzzywuzzy5749]

Mr. Dressup!! And the Friendly Giant!!!

[@timsmith2525]

"Go outside and play-with, like, a stick." -Tim Wilson So true for my childhood.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Tim!

[@oneminuteofmyday]

My mother had a schedule for breakfasts: Monday - cereal (non-sugary) Tuesday - frozen waffles Wednesday - scrambled eggs and toast Thursday - French toast Friday - oatmeal Saturday - Dad made pancakes Sunday - scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee cake Mom is always surprised that we kids remember the schedule after all these years, but it’s hard to forget what you ate for 18 years. lol

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories of that schedule. That is really impressive that it was kept up that whole time.

[@bigshot0987]

one of the best parts of my Saturday are your uploads Rhett every time I see one of videos I wanna get in a Time Machine and go back thanks for the awesome nostalgia

[@RhettyforHistory]

If you happen to ever find that Time Machine let me know! Thank you for watching Big Shot!

[@bigshot0987]

Will do Rhett

[@pongop]

It's Saturday Morning Cartoons for adults =)

[@rogergoodman8665]

We had it good back then. I loved growing up in the 70's and 80's. I remember and did most everything you mentioned, including the "dreaded" sitting on a bench holding mom's purse at the store! Everybody on the bench had the same expression on their face!!! I eagerly await every video! 👍👍

[@RhettyforHistory]

Those benches were definitely for the sons, husbands, fathers and boyfriends. It was like a time out bench. Thank you for watching and sharing some memories with us Roger!

[@joeheid2776]

What memories. I had great parents who adapted well with the changing times. Grew up in Pittsburgh so we were huge fans of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Actually met him twice.

[@pamelas1002]

Lucky!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Oh how cool would that have been to meet him? Thank you for watching and sharing your story with us Joe!

[@joeheid2776]

@@RhettyforHistory He lived around the corner from my Aunt's house so we caught him out walking those 2 times.

[@johnphantom]

I ate cereal as a child in the 1970s. By my teens thru the 1980s my dad frequently made pizza English muffins for breakfast.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories John!

[@leesashriber5097]

Heck yes!!!! The 80's!!! Thank you!! I really appreciated this upload. And can definitely relate to many of these things. 😊

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Leesa and I'm happy to know you enjoyed the video.

[@Toaster81]

Having been born in 81, I know the feel,sounds, & smells of every picture in this video. And damn I miss every single one. It was a unique & awesome time. Thanks for the flood of memories.

[@wilburnh]

I got a good laugh at the mention of the “way back” of the station wagon. Your videos are amazing and I appreciate the trips down memory lane.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and I'm happy to know you are enjoying the videos W B!

[@travelingwithmikeandpam9074]

Yes I was a parent of the 80's. Totally different! Thanks for the memories Rhetty!

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching my friend!

[@JunipersQuest]

It’s really incredible how things changed so much. I grew up in the 90’s and to me I still find it jarring that from 1980~2020 is 40 years later and kids from 1990~2020 is 30 years later. 80’s and 90’s where the golden years for kids and adults. Kids from pre 2000 and up will never experience what we had back in the day. Today’s generation Alpha~Beta are spoiled with things we never had growing up.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts on the 80s and 90s!

[@loishunt2347]

I turned 14 in 1980. Our parents were patents. Not our friends. Lol. We didn't know anything about "stranger danger'. Summers were amazing as both of our parents worked during the day. Yes we did stuff we shouldn't have done, but we all turned out ok! There was 6 of us siblings and we had a "party line". It did suck. One time the older sibs ran up a $300 phone bill and mom went downtown to GTE and insisted on getting a pay phone installed in our home. Lol. GTE said, "Ma'am, this ain't the Brady Bunch". Mom was pissed.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That is an outrageous amount for a phone bill! Were they calling long distance or calling some bad number they shouldn't have? Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories of the decade!

[@thurmeez]

Life was so simple and GREAT back then!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching thumeez!

[@thurmeez]

@@RhettyforHistory Thank YOU!

[@Dorelaxen]

The boomers called us the MTV Generation. It was meant as an insult, a denigration. It wasn't.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I think most kids were proud that MTV was around. Especially in that decade. Thank you for watching!

[@joelb8653]

I was an 80s parent and most of this rings true.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Joel!

[@melvinnance5029]

The 80s took me from 16 to 26, so I was caught between on this one. But it is still an outstanding piece of work.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Melvin!

[@chakroc]

Amazing how we actually survived in those days. Not only that, we grew up understanding the concept of discipline, repercussions, respect for others, and right from wrong. Today, we have to protect every kid from anything and everything that may cause them to feel just a bit of discomfort...and they grow up understanding none of the concepts that we did, and not having any experience of handling something that isn't catered to them. THUS, we have what society has become today. Today, whining and complaining is a way of life...back then, whining and crying got you picked on and ridiculed...result, mush less whining and crying back then!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Everything has changed for sure. I remember being taught rather than complaining about it, do something about it to make it change. It really didn't matter what that was on either. When you do something like that today people look at you strange and wonder why you're doing it. I think we've focused on ourselves too much and not on others. Service to our community seems absent in a lot of areas. Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@cocoaorange1]

I was an 80's teen. You are right,but every generation had issues.

[@Ragitsu]

I've never heard a more ignorant support of bullying in my entire life.

[@lindagreen1105]

This parent of the 80's was a little tougher than those parents. To this day my son still grioes about it. LOL

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing how you were in the 80s. You got your son raised and that is the important part!

[@jbrou123]

Man, how the turns table! Growing up, if we did something wrong, we had to stay inside. Now, if kids do something wrong, they have to go outside with no phone or gamers.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Jason!

[@kratoscraken5614]

Ahhhh the 80's, this is the golden age of life for most. Thank you for the memories mate 👍

[@Videos12ification]

Does anyone else remember getting invited to birthday parties at McDonald's and Burger King? I loved being a kid in the 80s! ❤

[@scotchrocksred]

i had a "cookie monster cake" on my 3rd birthday too, just like the photo included in your video. it was 1976. thanks for another amazing video rhetty...you're the best 👍

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching David! Did your mom or another family member make the cake?

[@scotchrocksred]

@@RhettyforHistory ...i don't know for certain but i believe it was purchased from a store. still have a couple photos of it

[@aariley2]

I always had Mickey Mouse cakes except for my 4th birthday when my nutty mother thought I (more she) would love a carob nut cake!

[@aariley2]

Great memories as today IS my birthday!

[@dorisbove2210]

@@aariley2 happy birthday 🎂🎈

[@marlenepearson3936]

So much fun! These videos. Life in general. Not a kid in the '80's. But I can relate to this. Sounds alot like the '60's and '70's. Thanks Rhett! 😊

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching Marlene!

[@chrissuter5001]

Spot On!! I loved my 70's and 80's childhood!

[@IloveNZ6389]

As I sit here listening to this video, I'm just smiling and saying "yup" or "I remember that".....what a great video!! Thanks for letting me re-live one of the best decades ever!! ❤😃👍

[@roonboo96]

The best part of those 70s and 80s birthday parties for me was the quarter that was hidden in the slice of cake you got. And it was just shoved in there, not even cleaned! I actually thought my mom baked them in there. Hahaha

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories with us Lyne!

[@cocoaorange1]

That sounded dangerous.

[@TopGunAce23]

Growing up in the 70 and 80s in an African American House, we watched the Cosby show, the Jeffersons and Knight Rider. The incredible hulk was my mom's show, and we couldn't talk during the transformation. Saturday was all about church for about 4hrs. Then to the mall with Mom and sis for another 4 hrs then either to pizza Hut or McDonald's. Sunday was all about getting the house cleaned from top to bottom. No outside till everything was done correctly.

[@aariley2]

OMG! I LOVED the Incredible Hulk! I was 3-5 then and Bill Bixby turns with those green eyes and the Wheeeeee sound and you just knew he was going to change! Woohoo! Like all kids then, I couldn't figure out why he didn't rip his pants! 😂 And I loved the Jeffersons (esp when he ran on the bed in the opening credits 😂!)and Sanford and Son.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That's interesting your mom loved the incredible hulk. I loved that show but my mom didn't. I loved the Jeffersons and The Cosby Show was one of the best ever. I always thought Dr Huxtable was the perfect TV dad. "I brought you into this world and I can take you out!" Great memories. Thank you for watching and sharing some of yours!

[@TopGunAce23]

@@RhettyforHistory that system was my parents favorite when I would get a lil too mouthy. The I'll take you out one...

[@brianmurphy2248]

You absolutely NAILED everything! I so miss that time of my life. Thanks for bringing back such amazing memories of a time long gone. Now, kids have cell phones, iPads and e-bikes to help raise them…. absolutely no incentive to be creative, figure things out or get any exercise. Man, do I miss that feeling of riding my bike around the neighborhood, feeling like I was a hundred miles from home. There was always a group of kids to join up with somewhere in the neighborhood. Excellent video!

[@ww2guy782]

Great times, I used to wait for certain songs to come on the radio! Used to hang out in arcades, summers were the best, great nostalgic video man, I'm gonna subscribe.

[@TammieR-B]

The weekly Rhetty time machine.... running perfectly 👍💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching and I appreciate the super thanks as well!

[@DelilahKeller-kx5rq]

@@RhettyforHistory you came across my screen I love your show so much some things you say is real life thank you for your show much love phx az 🖐️🍿

[@DelilahKeller-kx5rq]

@@RhettyforHistory new sub great work 👏👏👏👏🖐️🍿

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for watching Delilah and welcome to the channel!

[@ITIsFunnyDamnIT]

Born in 70 , I became a teenager in the mid 80s. I live in a small town so when we got our first mall. It was a big deal and the place where all the teenagers hung out, either there or the beach ( i live in FL, ) but the beach wasn't my thing. That's where all the most popular kids, the yuppy crowd hung out at. Us regular not so popular kids if we wanted to go swimming we'd go to a campground with crystal clear swimming springs. Most of the time though it was just hanging at the mall. We also rode in the back of pick up trucks. Looking back at that today you realize how dangerous that actually was, but in the 80s no one cared. You could pass by a cop riding in the back of a pick up truck and they didn't do anything. As a kid I thought riding in the back of a pick up was fun.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Riding in the back of a truck was super common. Very rarely do I see that now and when I do it's not really in the city. I would have loved the option of the beach and the mall. That would have been a lot of options for fun. Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

[@ITIsFunnyDamnIT]

@@RhettyforHistory Love all these videos. It's not only nostalgic but a reminder that nothing last forever.

[@shanebraaten9553]

roll up the window! you're letting all the smoke out of the car... Lol 😅

[@mandymoore5774]

That’s so true about going outside. My mother was constantly telling my sister & I to get out of the house & come home as soon as the street lights come on. & when we were younger we were told not to go past the red garage. & I absolutely HATED having to go to the mall when I was younger. Now it’s become a way of life.

[@DrumWild]

I didn't know much about drugs until Nancy opened up a wide world of possibilities!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Her campaign on that topic really failed. Thank you for watching!

[@LonewolfAZ520]

I feel joy when watching this channel cuz just about everything is true to a T. I'm an 80s baby and yeah my mom found a cassette tape of mine that had cuss words. Thanks Rhetty for History ✌🏼

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching Jose! I'm curious what happened after your mom found that cassette tape?

[@LonewolfAZ520]

@@RhettyforHistory it was thrown out unfortunately. 👍🏼😆

[@dianerobertson1759]

I was a kid in the 80's and recently when I was out shopping with some of my kids, I found myself saying that no way my 13 yr old son could not go into Walmart by himself and then I remembered that when I was 8 on up, I walked to the little corner store, with my younger siblings and no adults at all and bought candy and walked home and it was completely natural. I still did not let my 13 yr old go in by himself. Times are different and I do not want cps called because people think that kids can't manage walking through a store, picking out what they want to buy and purchasing it.

[@RhettyforHistory]

In some ways it's interesting to see the changes and then in other ways it is a little sad. Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories with us Diane!

[@notsosilentmajority1]

Great job on the video and the narration was spot on. I was a parent n the 80's and I am parent of a high school child today. I can honestly say that although none of my kids were ever any trouble, it was definitely a better feel in the 80's. There truly was less to worry about and kids didn't have easy access to the things they do today. Even tv or cable, etc. has changed dramatically. Today, certain language is permitted that definitely was not permitted in the 80's and the programming itself was very different. Like the video said, we didn't have to worry about internet access and all that it brings. Speaking from experience and raising kids in both decades, for me the 80's win easily.