Back to School: 80s VS Now

[@Our80sLife]

Pretty much nailed it. As kids in the 80s, we enjoyed the more free-range style of parenting, ha! And that color-block track suit is SO awesomely 80s. 😂

[@paulwilliams4900]

We called them windsuits! 😳

[@johnnymichael1804]

Just shows you how neurotic the society has become. Not a good thing.

[@kimberleelee43]

Loved being an 80's child 🥰 sure miss those days. I would give to have 1 day 😭

[@kurthanke5788]

Our parents were awesome. The ones that raised us during the 70s, as a kid, and the 80s, as a pre, and a teenager. Seems like a lot of parents are brain-dead now

[@elleningalls5434]

I had a purple track suit and a few others If i ever see some track suits Secretly looking for them lol

[@Loveandkindness33]

I’m pregnant with my 1st at 38, and yeah…. My husband and I both agreed that we’re raising our daughter with 80’s and 90’s parenting values. Classic.

[@tngirlz4622]

I was in high school in the 80s - this is taken directly from the historical record. In our household, though, it was a processed cheese slice on Wonder bread - bologna was only for special occasions. And my rusted metal lunchbox had Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon. We used to walk home from school along the railroad tracks as a shortcut. Our Moms would have killed us if they knew, but how would they know? We just had instructions to be home for dinner.😁

[@Mama_Bear524]

“Moms would’ve killed us if they knew, but how would they know?” 80’s childhood in a nutshell 😂😂😂

[@darkharlezucreek]

I had yellow plastic Garfield. Matching thermos.

[@richardmahn7589]

Didn't they follow you with GPS to know you went along the tracks and got to your destination a lot earlier than needed? Oh wait, 80s...

[@DioneN]

There were train tracks behind the local park where we played as kids. The fence was broken. We used to play on the train tracks all the time and even run to watch trains go by if we heard them coming. Life in the 80s 😂

[@PatriciaLLogan]

Anf do not let the street light catch you.

[@Peptalkmom]

I loved growing up in the 80s! It was character building.

[@marinecorpswarrior915]

I'm a 60's kid and really the only 2 rules we had were to be within range of your mother yelling for you, or at least within range that other people on your block heard her and would tell you that your mama was yelling for you; and to be home before the sun went down. Back then 99% of the time our parents never knew where we went once we hopped on our bikes and rode off. And as for as lunch went, if you didn't make it yourself then you just didn't eat. Glad I grew up in a time without cell phones, play dates and helicopter parents. The swishing of that track suit was hilarious 🤣😆😂

[@amyhutchinson3170]

I was an 80’s kid and it was almost the same- we were off right after breakfast-but we had to check in for lunch and had to be home by dinner. Makes me wonder if the world was safer then, or just *appeared* to be safer because there was less ability to know about the bad stuff..

[@amyhutchinson3170]

I was an 80’s kid and it was almost the same- we were off right after breakfast-but we had to check in for lunch and had to be home by dinner. Makes me wonder if the world was safer then, or just *appeared* to be safer because there was less ability to know about the bad stuff..

[@cece121234]

A friend of mine told me that her uncle was a kid in the 40s and if a family had eight kids and all eight were alive and well at the end of the day, it's a good day!

[@marinecorpswarrior915]

@@cece121234 thank your friend for me for that story cuz I can't stop laughing 😂😂😂😂

[@lettiefickling1201]

@@amyhutchinson3170 this is completely accurate. the US and most western countries are a lot safer in terms of threats from other people. murder, rape, kidnappings, etc. all way lower than they were. the difference is now parents hear about crimes happening all over the country not just their town which makes things seem more dangerous. the one exception is cars. things have gotten increasingly suburban, roads have gotten wider and faster, and cars have gotten bigger making it more dangerous to be a pedestrian or cycling child in a neighborhood. statistically is makes very little sense to worry about your child being kidnapped at the playground by themselves, but a lot of sense to worry about them getting run over on the way there.

[@CraftescapeTX]

Except in the 80s there was no such thing as "first day of school" pictures. You had to wait for the school to do picture day for that!

[@Mama_Bear524]

Was gonna say! I had one pic because I changed schools. Other than that I had none Also, for picture day? My mom remembered once and it’s the only time my hair was near and I’m dressed up. Now I’m the same. Always forget

[@mycupoverflows7811]

For sure. polaroids were too expensive to waste on such common mundane occurrences 🤣

[@vickyclinkscales4646]

We had a few first day pics (60s and 70s), no sign, but you had to wait to finish the film roll and take it in to be developed so you might not have the pictures until Thanksgiving!

[@tessie7e777]

Well, I guess my mom was a trail-blazer. I have first day pictures from K-8th grade, 1970-1978. LOL

[@robertknight4672]

@@mycupoverflows7811 also the chemicals in the film will dry up when in a reasonable amount of time. Polaroid film has made a comeback yes it's still expensive basically because the battery was in the film pack. Polaroid does currently sell instant cameras with rechargeable batteries and if you buy the i-type film which just doesn't have a battery in it, it's a little cheaper.

[@kristinahawkins6694]

I graduated high school in 81, so I grew up in the 70’s and my lunch was bologna and cheese, usually had cookies or a ding dong and some chips and a dime for some fruit punch at work. I walked to and from school and stopped at my grandparents house in the way home from school. When I was older, I had to make my own lunch and it was a treat when my dad made my lunch because he made the best lunches with all the goodies. Had to be home by dark but we always had to stay in our street. If my dad whistled for us, we had better get home. I had an awesome childhood.

[@agb7573]

Yes the infamous dad whistle, I can relate. It also worked well if I wandered off in a store. If I heard my Dad whistle I knew to get my butt back to wherever he was. No yelling needed.

[@allisonririe7580]

Is anyone else impressed that they changed the background of the pantry with organic stuff for “today” and not organic food for the 80s. Y’all are the best and hilarious !

[@donaldstanfield8862]

They're awesome

[@realSamAndrew]

Ummm, why would they use organic food for the 80s, when they are illustrating what parents do TODAY? It would even be harder to get retro foods and it would be less appropriate to their point. ⁉️

[@evershade.after.dark.]

My favorite part of back-to-school was getting a new cigar box and a new set of crayons to go in it. That, and the smell of the giant pink eraser. ❤️

[@kdallosnc]

Ohhhh I forgot about that giant pink eraser smell!!!

[@mariekam738]

Ha ha ha…. I remember 😂😂

[@Sweet_Melissa22]

And scented markers!!!

[@missusd1130]

I LOVED the fancy huge pencil sharpeners in school They worked so much batter than the little dinky bad ones.

[@evershade.after.dark.]

@@missusd1130 I agree!

[@grayhatjen5924]

The accuracy of this is horrifyingly perfect.

[@lynnealuebben1967]

Yes...it...is.😀

[@jackvotes24]

Need a cigarette between fingers.

[@cada2480]

80s: good luck finding your locker and remembering the combination. You have to get the right books out for the right classes! Can't lug all of those around all day. Make sure you bring them home to make brown paper bag book covers for each one. Hey, look- this was MY geometry book! Today: Here's your Chrome book.

[@ruthmeow4262]

I loved my brown paper bag book covers. Needed something to doodle on during class.

[@caitlinkurnit3642]

You make an excellent point. I should have my students make brown paper bag covers for their chromebooks!

[@knittingdoula]

God, I feel so seen. Amazing. 😂😂

[@teresasnamesake4784]

Wow, you still had brown paper book covers in the 80s? We had them in the 70s for sure!

[@adrianarubio5253]

@@teresasnamesake4784 We still had them when I went to middle school in the early 2000s :)

[@crystald8465]

This is soooo accurate. Just missing the sugary cherry pop tarts for breakfast 🤣. I'm surprised I'm still here y'all.

[@mlea1995]

They had a cinnamon one that was good!

[@christinacottrell6505]

Lmao same

[@n.ayisha]

all the cereal we ate in the 80s was like 75% sugar. what does not kill you, makes you stronger... or makes you prone to diabetes. either way, we're still here!!!

[@anitastodolak9882]

@@mlea1995 I LOOOVED THEM! THEY WERE MY FAVORITE! I think they even had chocolate. Yum!

[@coribug42]

We have Oreo Pop Tarts, but for after school.

[@kristinscala9324]

Yep. We didn't find out what teacher we had until we showed up to school that first day. You just went down the hall and looked at the list posted on the door until you found your name. Haha.

[@imzadi83fanvids7]

We knew the name and then would call around to our friends to see if anyone's sibling had had them previously.

[@deborahb6294]

Exactly it was great

[@joannaurban2418]

When I first started school in 1986 I was in the wrong class for a week before they noticed.

[@majormana1]

90s here's your room number good luck.

[@queenofputrescence5167]

Catholic School, grades 1-8. Not only did I know who I was having for a particular grade, I knew years in advance!

[@ksherrick430]

My 3rd grader has a Trapper Keeper on her school supply list and I feel like my life has come full circle.

[@chrissycopeland8064]

Must find a trapper keeper. As a substitute teacher I'll need it for something, right??!!

[@thehyperfocusedfix]

I have no kids. I’m long done with school…. I may have gone to Walmart specifically to buy one (two).

[@helenryan5217]

Is it a Lisa Frank Trapper?

[@meghoughton562]

I had NO idea those were back! 😮

[@thehyperfocusedfix]

@@helenryan5217 no, but they did have Lisa Frank stuff there too!

[@kdallosnc]

As a child of the 80s, this is spot on!

[@Cheri94]

Crazy we never needed anything but a few folders, number 2 pencils and pens????

[@kdallosnc]

@@Cheri94 I know!!! Now my son’s school list really is 10 pages long lol 😂

[@Cheri94]

@@kdallosnc it’s crazy, what do school taxes actually go towards? I would seriously be home schooling.

[@melindadouglas1673]

As a mom in the 80’s this is spot on! 😂

[@jeanettelester9609]

"Here's a bologna sandwhich" "You're gonna need to find your own ride home from school" Those ones really spoke to me. Sums up the childhood of gen x.

[@daniellediaz7546]

I remember kids making fun of the one student that had the rolling bag instead of the bookbag. That's the only adult that doesn't need to go see a Chiropractor 3 times a week now.

[@foxwaffles]

I remember having three full binders and five hardcover textbooks jammed in my backpack and I had to bring my backpack to each of my seven classes every single day in high school, as the school was so big there was no point to having a locker. I would have to run back and forth between the two buildings on a four minute timer.... I had horrific back pain for almost a decade after that.

[@caitiemaesings]

Danggg I was that kid… and I don’t waste money on the chiropractor 😲😂

[@teairraweiss4195]

Lol my neck is jacked up and I see a chiropractor

[@vickierinehart4434]

Those book bags are horribly heavy last year when my grandkids weren't allowed to have lockers because of covid 🙄 everything had to stay in their book bags I picked one up or I tried to I don't know how these kids do it I thought give them kids a locker and stop it already.

[@luv.georgie5047]

I had one of those is first to second grade. Probably will still have to see a chiropractor because if my 50 lb bag 😅

[@ModernJewelryMakers]

Kim's "80's Mom" was still way more involved with school than mine was in the 80's! Not a bad thing - she was working - I can't remember a time that I didn't make my own breakfast & packed my own lunch. She bought me new clothes each year & all the school supplies and then never asked about school again all year. I still graduated & went off to college (on student loans!)

[@ShelleyFayles]

Same!

[@SunnyDaysAhead85]

Same! My mom tried to drop me at school in a blizzard once and was super annoyed when it was closed🤣

[@giantschick21]

Yikes

[@noahpartic7586]

As long as I got passing grades, WTF ever. I knew of my own volition to NEVER touch college loans...I utilized 2 different grants & 🎓 debt free. Stay away from College Loans AT ALL COSTS. Use Scholarships or grants instead. Get passing grades & debt is no issue there. Be Well.

[@Ed__Powell]

I love these documentaries. It’s like mini PBS.

[@anitastodolak9882]

Even though I was born in the 60's and grew up in the 70's this is SPOT ON! LOVE THE CRIMPED HAIR KIM! I LOOOOVE YOU GUYS AND THE 80'S! THANKS FOR MAKING ME SMILE YET AGAIN!

[@ceeford9919]

Yes! Yes! This is SO spot on! Just add a blinding-neon scrunchie to your wrist! Jazzersise was practically a religion! Growing up in the 80s was Awesome!

[@imzadi83fanvids7]

Don't forget your snap bracelet and those plastic things you thread one side of your t-shirt through.

[@ceeford9919]

Oh gosh yeah! Hopefully, she has on her color-coordinated reeboks also!@@imzadi83fanvids7

[@ES-jn9od]

Actually the scrunchies are back 😂

[@beautytube1]

So awesome….wish I could do it over….just make it last longer😑

[@ceeford9919]

@@ES-jn9od Oops! Forgot the frilly baby-girl socks, worn with heels!👠 🤭

[@lizzabrahams6504]

This makes me sad for today's kids in some ways. We baby them so much nowadays.

[@Hanapetals]

And not at all in others. Feels like the stakes are so much higher these days - must get good grades and have leadership experience and do well in instruments and sports and competitions to get into a good major at a good college to have any chance of one day landing a good job that may or may not be outsourced to a 3rd world country or robots. And what are pensions? Don’t even think social security will be around by the time we hit 95, or whatever they’ve raised the cutoff to by then, we’re on our own 🙃

[@8910Bel]

Can't beat the 80s! Thanks, Kim for brining back soooooo many memories!!!

[@phn064]

I like the mom from 80s so much more!

[@rosealexander9007]

I was raised by boomers. I’m a younger generation X. But my parents acted more like they were from the silent generation. They weren’t quite that hip. But as far as the food content I was offered that’s spot on. Also, both of my parents worked until after school was done until around 5:00 🕔 or 6:00 🕕 in the evening. So I was left alone to take care of my self as a teenager or I went to latchkey when I was young. I was the one that wanted to crimp my hair. It was cool back then.

[@5fingerjack]

Me too!

[@emmagatewood3898]

Kids like the 80s mom more too! More fun for the kids, less stress and anxiety for parents, it's a win-win all around!

[@shellohween]

Not just school😆This sums up everything about everything in where we are as a species right bow 😆👏🏻 y’all are brilliant

[@kylemichaelsen7374]

"I'll pick you up at 7...8...6...just be outside." Ah, playing school sports before cell phones. 1-800-COLLECT, or 1-800-CALLATT, those were lifesavers. Except the time my mom forgot she had to pick me up and wasn't at home to take the call. (Or deny the charges, rather). That was a fun walk home.

[@mmille10]

Been there, done that. Except for me, it was the local public library. I'd hang out there sometimes, because they had computers I could sign up for time to use. I'd walk there, and my mom would say she'd pick me up when the library closed. On rare occasions she'd forget, or be very late. In that case, I'd wait a half-hour+, and then walk home. Fortunately, I lived in a very safe town. A couple times my mom freaked, because she'd come to the library late, lights would be out, nobody there, and then she'd wonder if I was abducted, or something... Ah yes, life before cell phones.

[@megan2349]

Remember when you called collect and they ask you to say your name and you just yell "mompickmeup?"

[@mmille10]

@@megan2349 - My mom and her sister did something similar. Her sister didn't want to call long-distance. So, she had this arrangement with my mom where she would call collect, my mom would recognize her voice, and she would say her sister had the wrong number to end the call. This was her sister's signal that she wanted to talk. Then my mom would call her.

[@evelynsaungikar3553]

If I couldn’t get myself there and back by myself, I couldn’t go.

[@kitsunelee007]

I'd better be dead if I had to call collect. I always had 25 cents underneath the insole of my shoes if I needed to make an emergency call. My Grandmother had a pager but never understood how to operate it(she was a real estate agent).

[@michellec6336]

The 80's is why I'm such a helicopter mom now. Parents forgetting to pick me up from school would tell the Principal at 8pm when he called, "Oh, I thought she was here. She's so quiet who knows." Now if my kids are quiet, I worry what's wrong, or what craziness they are planning against the other. And if I can play too! LOL

[@HangingWood]

Constantly telling my wife to let the kids find their own way in life. Let them learn by their own mistakes, but apparently that is now bad parenting.

[@piiinkDeluxe]

Trust me, it's not.

[@missusd1130]

Only what the lefties say! If we were as hard on crime now as they were back then, helicopter parenting wouldn't be necessary. I feel so sorry for my kids that they don't get to have the same level of FREEDOM, safety, and opportunity.

[@piiinkDeluxe]

@@missusd1130 being hard on crimes is not a solution. I recently watched a documentary where they compared US prisons with Norwegian prisons. They focus on therapy, rehabilitation and reintegration into society. And the only punishment is the loss of freedom for a certain period of time. People rarely have to go back to prison.

[@stephanielu7694]

I'm a "bad parent" and raise all 6 of my kids like its back in the day. I got 6 well adjusted,obedient kids. And people ask how I have so many kids and they are so well behaved. If I tell someone from my generation how I raise my kids they gasp. If its someone from an older generation they all say something along the lines of "oh that's great! I wish more parents raised their kids like that! Kids these days are terrible" 😅

[@jayaom4946]

I know, I have that tendency in me but I always feel like I'm doing it a little secretly. I don't want to let people find out that I allow my kids to make their own mistakes and learn from them!! 😯

[@LadyInSchwarz74]

My parents were both career parents in the 1980’s and worked all the time. So, I vaguely remember shopping with them for school supplies and clothes. I was on the meal plan at school, so I didn’t carry a lunch. The rest I figured out on my own. And they wonder why we GenXers are so independent. 😂😂😂

[@robina1147]

So true!

[@nikkiwaters6688]

Latch Key generation -from 3rd grade on!

[@marilynbaton4391]

Wow. You nailed it for sure. With every generation things get more complicated. In the 1950’s we had no school supplies to buy. The school provided it all. When I raised my kids in the 80’s I was surprised that we had to buy school supplies.

[@michellebrown3563]

I’m thinking they ask parents to buy supplies because each school only has so much money in the budget. I don’t mind buying supplies. If it helps, it helps.

[@kitsunelee007]

My Mother thought I was trying to con her the first time she had to buy school supplies. ...i was in kindergarten and very confused but I was old enough to use the cigarette vending machine to pick up my Grandfather's cigarettes. No one ever questioned a kid at one of them it was always "you picking these up for your father or mother" and rang you up.

[@theblendedhomemaker3234]

"They say it on the box, it's a good breakfast." 🤣🤣🤣 Spot on video, enjoyed it!

[@jenniferbryant2700]

Remember fighting with your siblings over who gets the toy at the bottom of the box.

[@theblendedhomemaker3234]

@@jenniferbryant2700 yes!! 😅

[@beadybaby]

I always loved start of school (70-80's) well before lists of things to buy. It was a really good school system, though. Too poor for Trapper Keepers but it's not like I didn't try! Lunch was one slice of bologna on generic white bread with mustard. Twinkies, Suzy-Q's, Ding Dongs, etc were commonplace. No vending machines in schools at all. You drank milk, or water, or nothing. I don't even remember brown baggers having cans or bottles of soda.

[@kynn23]

The best part of buying lunch in elementary school ('80s): chocolate milk was an option on Fridays. The best part of buying lunch in middle school (circa 1990): fries and pizza were everyday options. "Pizza" was a generous term for that floppy, rectangular slab, but it was still exciting considering I usually brought my lunch from home.

[@EricaGamet]

Cans of soda were for special days like Field Day or when you took a field trip. The cans were wrapped in tin foil to stay colder longer!

[@magicalomaha2804]

I was talking with my sister about this, we drank almost nothing as kids, a half pint of milk at lunch, a couple of sips of water at dinner. Why do people (me included) drink so many fluids now?

[@sararao8429]

​@@magicalomaha2804 exactly, playing outside for hours in the summer and I don't remember being very thirsty

[@angelao1723]

As always, it’s all hilariously true! Although, I will say that our school cafeteria trash can is filled with most of those healthy foods and snacks that parents lovingly pack for their kids. Sad but true.

[@michellebrown3563]

That’s why I pack what I know my kids will eat. I try to one at least one healthy item in there. But I want my kids to eat and be full.

[@homethatilove4595]

It's true. I've seen so much packed lunch foods thrown out - smaller portions = less thrown away

[@angelao1723]

@@michellebrown3563 Smart!

[@pajamamama5965]

As a child of the eighties, I so relate to this. I find myself a mix of both parenting styles actually. I'm about 60% helicopter parent and 40% eighties mom lol. I start out the week a helicopter parent and exhaust myself, so by the weekend I'm the eighties mom lol. I reassure myself, hey look, we turned out OK when the mom guilt shows up.

[@sable747]

I love this!! :)

[@davidmarlajurek5038]

I still remember my first Trapper Keeper in 5th grade!!!! My kids are missing out! Oh, don't forget the bubblegum scented erasers!!! Loved the video as always 😁. Happy return to school all!

[@canadagirl408]

I'm so glad my sibs and I were born in the 70s/80s, first day of school pics were just us with a backpack that read "1st day of school" we were lucky if it had the date on the back. Bologna sandwich, carrots, chips, and juice box Gatorade everyday (I don't think I've seen Gatorade in a juice box in decades) and on Fridays a special Zebra cake; bottles of water were not allowed unless you had a note from a doctor that you needed one because you were getting over something; we traded puffy stickers and there were no such thing as "allergy tables" because no one had any unless it was a rare one to a certain medication, only a handful of kids actually had ADHD and when they told us, we were just like (yeah that tracks). We never talked to a teacher on the playground for fun or to settle an argument, we did that ourselves. We only went to them if we were really hurt and really had to go to the nurse. On hot, sunny days, we'd come in from recess blinded and everyone at least 7 seconds at the drinking fountain afterwards, the line took forever

[@BrigitofBergental]

I love that Trapper Keepers are back; I bought one and so did 2 of my friends. One is starting her PhD at 39, one is a 40 year old science teacher, and I (45) have no connection with formal schooling at all currently but bought it for classes I will take through my hobby. I expect to see more of my friends with them.

[@nikkiwaters6688]

Wait, Trapper Keepers are back? Where have I been? 🤔

[@EricaGamet]

I screeched when I saw her Trapper Keeper, "Where did she get one of those?!?!" I didn't know they are back. Can I still buy Pee-Chees?

[@n.ayisha]

lol. i love the doctoral student with the Trapper Keeper. now i wish i had one back in grad school.

[@JazzyMamaInAK]

Did you get a Lisa Frank?

[@Chelly_Smelly]

That Windsuit outfit is on point! My mom has a family picture of my whole family in just windsuits hanging up in her room from when we were growing up. 🤣

[@laurawilliams2607]

Pit any generation up against the other, with a 40 year gap and it's amazing how different the parenting norms are. Love this!

[@CCGem]

Yup. Pretty sure my parents had no clue what my school assignments were. You just had to figure it out for yourself.

[@bunacat1]

Yes! I don't have kids, but I was shocked to see that my sister can see her kids assignments. Even more shocked at how lazy the kids were on getting assignments done. Even more shocked that they were able to "make-up" missed assignments and tests. If we didn't turn stuff in, we got a zero, no make ups. This is setting the kids up for a real wake up call when they get to college and out in the work force.

[@michaelleary9233]

@@bunacat1 Read iGen by Jean Twenge, it'll be an eye opener about today's kids.

[@susanstetson3435]

I’m 55 so not only was our lunch box metal the thermos was lined with glass. The matching thermos was always the first casualty of the school year. One drop and it was over lol.

[@michaelleary9233]

No kidding, in first grade I actually threw mine down a slide to break it cause I hated having my sister's old girly lunchbox. Paid dearly for that one.

[@noahpartic7586]

My Lunchbox Thermos NEVER had glass, that was for the adults. I actually came across a shattered glass Thermos...WTF were people 🤔 back then😱?

[@tinybird2413]

In the 80's my mom was an aerobics instructor. I had a plastic He-Man lunch box (I liked the show as a kid and all the girl lunch boxes were sold out. I got made fun of pretty hard though so I tried to cover it with stickers) which was packed with cheeze whiz sandwiches, a juice box and chocolate pudding. Back to School shopping was really exciting for me. We never got Trapper Keepers cause they were expensive but I did get to choose folders - and I always went for the ones with unicorns on it. But the BEST part of back to school shopping was picking out new clothes. Our budget was mostly allocated to good shoes - my favorite were Rebock hightops. Not gonna lie, I had a lot of fun back then.

[@adria89]

🤣🤣🤣 I loved it! So relatable for those of us old enough to remember 🤪

[@michellem9444]

"Got you a brand new Trapper Keeper. It is all you need." You speak truth! :)

[@js1642]

Well that and some fly parachute pants.

[@thetoysofchildhood]

I remember taking a Cabbage Patch Doll to school and she sat at my desk with me all day! 🥰 Those were the days!🙂❤️

[@StephanieBogart]

I for sure had a track suit. But more importantly, I had parachute pants. The girl version of the ones Mikey wore in The Goonies

[@angiesnyder5688]

This is SOOOO how it was. We are the latch-key kids. We took care of ourselves. YAY to GENXers!!!!! Totes time someone paid attention to our generation!

[@n.ayisha]

same here. my mom would call to make sure i got home safely, then i was on my own for the next couple-few hours. i got to be so self-reliant, she didn't have to ask about homework, because i did it while watching cartoons and waiting for everyone to get home.

[@jeanmcgee8603]

I remember the only requirement I had was just to call my parents when I got home. After that, I immediately raided the pantry of all the snacks and, depending on my mood, either watched tv mindlessly or plugged in my NES

[@adventureswithgnomie6553]

We really grew up during the best time

[@hollishan]

The excitement for the BRAND NEW Trapper Keeper and lunch box was real!!! I had a couple of those track suits as well! Like everyone has said.. Nailed it! :-)

[@arnoldlee2148]

Thank you and your family for the laughs . Very much appreciated.

[@PenelopeW]

That track suit would melt in front of a space heater!!!

[@jackson5116]

It is crazy how the 80's kids are a complete 180 from our parents as parents.

[@laurzee]

I was a grade schooler in the late 70s and middle schooler/high schooler in the 80s. Graduated in 1988. I'm honestly surprised that one of my parents actually enrolled me in school. I know neither of them knew anything that was going on in my school on a day to day basis!!

[@Abyssinian121]

Yep. Older Gen-Xer here. My father was basically AWOL after the divorce. We'd see him every other year, maybe. His child support checks rarely showed up. My first stepfather barely glanced at us, and considered the roof over our heads 'his' contribution to our upkeep, since we weren't his kids. Mom didn't have the time or energy, to make us bentos. Instead, we ate at the school cafeteria, and we we were grateful for the hot meal, even if it wasn't appetizing. My mother did know our homeroom teachers' name, and would have kicked our butts if we'd done anything even remotely disrespectful. This insane, overachiever parenting style is one reason I'm glad I never had children. It was tough enough to parent in the 70's as a single mother, and I've never trusted any man not to leave me in the lurch with the kids, given my past experiences with 'fathers'. My mother only had so much energy, and most of that was directed at staying employed.

[@mfcmxtt6490]

Saw a sticker once that said 'I survived free range parenting' As a child of the 80's, i laughed so hard! As a mum now, i marvel at how chill my parents were and that i survived!

[@bridgetburdick6791]

As a fellow child of the 80’s you were SPOT ON!!! Keep up the great work. ❤️❤️❤️

[@jenniferbates2811]

Trapper Keeper!!!! I graduated from high school in 1996 and I still had one! I used those track suits "Squishy clothes"!

[@ichuze7312]

Sooo true!! I miss The 80’s! 😩 life was so much easier and so much fun back then.

[@ecto78]

Trapper keepers are back!! I was to happy to buy my kiddo a few (and maaayybe one for me).👍🙂

[@auntiea2002]

When I was in junior high,my school district flat out banned Trapper Keepers. I still think they are so frieking handy. We were never told why they were banned of course lol.

[@dagman85]

@@auntiea2002 - probably because of people constantly opening and closing the Velcro in class. I know I did that...

[@michellebrown3563]

I saw those when I went school supply shopping. I wanted to get my kids one each. Hubby didn’t seem so impressed. I think I had one once. My dad was always to cheap to buy things like that.

[@Octoberfurst]

As a person who was in school from the late '60s into the '70s this brought back a lot of memories. All I had to buy for school were things like notebooks and pens and such. No three page lists for me. And my mom packed my lunch everyday and it was always a baloney sandwich on white bread, a Little Debbie cake and an apple or a banana. Same lunch everyday. And my lunch was in one of those little brown bags that I kept in my locker until lunch time. Plus I had to walk five blocks to my bus stop along a busy highway. Today no parent would let their child do that! Ahh, the good old days!

[@bethannslusser822]

OMG! I love this! I don’t know how we survived our childhood! Thanks for making me laugh yet again!

[@MJ-fh8fw]

OMG sooo spot on, your forgot the giant ball of foil we made with our ding dong wrappers.

[@bobarkwright4954]

I loved those Star Wars lunchboxes! LOL

[@nikkibest5010]

I had a Bionic Woman one. With the thermos that fit inside. Lol

[@michaelleary9233]

4th grade, I sat down the first day with my Six Million Dollar Man one, and the girl next to me had yours. Love at first sight.

[@jesuschild07able]

I know this was for the 80’s but in the 90’s I can relate. We walked by ourselves to school with our bright colored sweat pants that I got for the thrift store. I had a Rugrats lunch box that I hit another kid with. I was cool because it came with a matching thermos which had orange pop in it. I had chips, carrots, gogurt, fruit snacks and a sandwich. Not always all of that but had to have enough to trade. Also brought toys to school all the time! I feel bad for kids now.

[@SquirrelSP8Fatun]

My allowance was .50 to $1. Depending on how many chores I did. 🤪 Loved my trapper keeper.

[@GoToPhx]

This was fabulous! I had children a little bit later in life, so I was a little bit behind the times when my kids started school. My Jaw Dropped when faced with my first 'school supply list'. What a strange concept!

[@lenoraGrayce]

Yep. I was an 80s latch key kid from age eight. Parents didn't know where their kids were until the sun set.

[@jennyrose843]

This was Absolutely Brilliant and so very very true! Only thing missing was a "Latch key" kid reference! That was Me and All of Friends.

[@julieg.9531]

:-) Those warm and melting fluffernutter wonder sandwiches we ate, out of our rusty stinky metal lunchboxes, whoa. I was a real geek though, I hated trapper keepers. Everyone had one, but they were so badly made -- you could fit like 10 pieces of paper in it, and the rings were plastic and would always bend out of shape. We were left on our own a lot, this is true, and I'm not sure if this was such a great thing, but I do think it's made our gen very resilient. Love your vids, thanks for the smiles.

[@debranielsen2002]

I loved my Trapper Keeper 😂

[@thetoysofchildhood]

The 80s were the BEST😂😂😂 So accurate!

[@js1642]

She should have been smoking a cigarette in one hand and holding a phone with a 10 foot spiral cord in the other. Lol

[@Zephyr_star_reads]

My dad wanted to get me a Trapper Keeper so i can "experience true learning"

[@krisushi1]

I can't believe you still had that tracksuit! No wonder we would refer to them as "parachute tracksuits" but the colours of yours beat anything that I ever had. You should keep it Kim, as I'm sure that they will be back in fashion one day just like everything else we think of with repulsion now yet thought looked fantastic back in the day.🇦🇺

[@wendio5437]

I love all the 80’s videos because I was a teenager in the 80’s. You nailed it for sure!!!

[@kristinsanders1866]

I graduated in 1990. I am literally dead right now. This lady is an absolute legend. 😂😂💟#duranduran

[@nikkibest5010]

Hellow fellow Duranie. I'm the class of 90 too. Lol

[@kristinsanders1866]

@@nikkibest5010 lol xoxo, Kristin

[@wdestrempsmecke]

I’m so old my Kelly green Trapper Keeper had a snap instead of Velcro. Also, how many kids know what a latch key kid is. 🤔😂😂😬

[@robina1147]

Lol yes! Latchkey kid since I was 9.

[@AndiNewtonian]

Wait, parents in the 80s took first day of school photos? I'm a child of the 80s, and I'm dubious. Also, parents driving their kids to school? Not where I lived. You either road the bus or -- if you were lucky -- had an older sibling who could (and would) drive you with them. (Mine would not.)

[@snowwhitepeak]

I think this is more late eighties. I don't remember first day photos except for Kindergarten when the day before I had gone over the handlebars of my bike on a dirt road and got a scarred up face and concussion! I also road the bus. Popular kids in the back, unpopular in the front. Directly behind the driver was for the "bad" kids. I was so happy when I could drive myself and my friend to school!

[@angelalangrd]

I also only remember first day of kindergarten photos. And yep, bus or walked! Too funny!

[@bunacat1]

Oh my gosh, me walking to school in Kindergarten by myself about a mile...we all did! I think it would be considered child endangerment now or something similar. It was rare that we even got a ride to school no matter what the weather.

[@JazzyMamaInAK]

For us in Delaware, someone thought up desegregation and bussing was the norm. My dad was mad because I had to take a bus from Wilmington to Newark to middle school then back to Wilmington for Gifted and Talented and back to school and then home. He convinced the principal to let me go to the local school while the program was active. They would never allow a kid to walk that far now.

[@justuslightworkers]

I walked most of the time. Even in winter. I don't even remember how I got home if it was pouring rain though. Wasn't important enough to remember. Walking or bus was the norm. Only rode the bus in middle School when I lived in the country.

[@Platypie9]

I always loved my trapper keepers lol

[@helterskelter4every1]

I found out one day that my mother was literally tearing mold off of bread and still putting the sandwich in our lunch bags. Go 90’s Mom’s lol 😂

[@John_Be]

Kim & Penn: Lola, we want you to do this back to school video. 80's vs Today. Lola: Um...NO WAY. I have that thing. Ask PC. Kim: PC? PC: No. Seeee Yaaaaa! Penn: Kim? Kim: Cool I'm getting out my Crimper again. They NEVER go out of style. Lola: (Mom is SO cheugy) Penn: Looks AWESOME honey... squirrel! (Forgive the ADHD reference I got it to... and so does my family... My poor wife)

[@rubytook8067]

🤣

[@too-da-loo]

Our school supplies was just a small pencil case with a few colored pencils, some math stuff and an eraser. Our parents knew when school started and had to sign report cards. That was the total sum of their involvement. We walked nearly a mile and a half to school and back each day and school was only cancelled if the heating broke in winter. To read the comments from parents posting when school systems make decisions on closing is mind blowing..

[@pixietwitch]

Seriously! A trapper keeper, some pee-chee folders (the ones with all the sports on it), some paper, pencils and a box of crayons or markers, and that was all we needed for school! Got to high school, just needed either a larger folder to separate all your classes into, or separate, smaller folders for each class. Need tissues, throw a bunch in your bag. Now parents are paying hundreds of dollars on school supplies for kids, even more if they have to wear uniforms.

[@amyginsburg]

I'm so glad my kids are young adults now. Start of school has gotten so complicated! And this year, there's the added issue of Covid. I feel for all of the parents who have to explain why their younger kids can't get vaccinated and to have to reassure them that the masks will protect them. My 30ish son was just remarking that he would've refused to attend school because he'd be too anxious. It's going to be a rough start of school this year. Thanks for making us smile!

[@LADHP]

My two boys would absolutely be throwing fits if they had to go back this year. They both have some anxiety about it, and they let me know. I worry so much about all the kids and I am scratching my head why they would send the kids back.. 🤷‍♀️

[@christypelak3183]

Oh I miss the 80's. Oh man you totally nailed it!! This is the mentality of people now days. I just cannot relate . I just look at people like 👍😬 with no connection. I'm loving your channel. The world needs the humor 🤣

[@tarzapopohead]

I remember my trapper keeper. Al you needed was some paper, subject dividers and a pen or pencil. Do you remember having to go to the grocery store for paper bags so you can cover your books? I rode my bike home and on the first day of school my mom dropped me off and said there is the list of the class your going to be in. I have got to go, " See you when I see You." WE Had it so easy back then. As long as you came home without some broken bones your day was a success.

[@slonekettering25]

I don’t have kids so I’m like 😳 is this really true for today’s kids? I’d be the worst parent. No one ever took a stinkin first day of school picture of me. And I laughed out loud about the rusty metal lunch box. They were the best though!!!!

[@michellebrown3563]

I grew up in the 90s. We never had first day of school pictures either. It’s just something us parents do now. And we get more creative with each year, lol. They exaggerated some with 10 pages of school supplies. Sometimes it feels like that though! Thankfully the amount of supplies we have to buy has gone down some. Especially when they get into middle and high school. Those schools mainly just ask you supply your kids with paper, pencils, pens, and a binder. Anything other than that is extra and totally up to the parent.

[@lynnettelg]

I was thinking this too that it seemed incredulous. But it appears the family nailed it in this video! I know the 80’s references are pretty accurate with humor for emphasis. Love this video!

[@lanareed214]

The lunch box , the school supply list, the water bottle!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣 stop I'm dying

[@barbarapayne417]

This is so spot on. Absolutely perfect!

[@stevestalock3200]

I'm a child of the 60s and a parent of the 80s. As a free-range kid, we learned self-reliance early in life. BTW, I think it's time to bring back the crimped hair look.

[@melissawest4386]

The accuracy though 👌

[@dssouthern]

Oh Lord! They used to call the jackets wind breakers.

[@rosealexander9007]

Yes

[@AmandaDavis6130]

Was that an 80s thing as well? I know it was in the 90s when I started school.

[@rosealexander9007]

@@AmandaDavis6130 I can’t remember for sure but I remember people calling them windbreakers for sure. I’m 44. So small details about a time frame for when they started to refer to something such as a windbreaker has escaped my memory. But I definitely remember people calling them that.

[@WendyHughesJelenGRNLVNG]

They're still called windbreakers! I don't think there's a new name for it.

[@dssouthern]

@@WendyHughesJelenGRNLVNG no one wears windbreakers or "plastic jackets".

[@sarrahramos4928]

Love 80s vs now videos

[@paigemurray4946]

The Tapper Keeper was like the Cadillac of school supplies. I was always told “you don’t need that, it’s too expensive.” Went through a very expensive planner phase as an adult to compensate. Had all the things, lol!

[@EmmaChihuahua81]

I loved my metal lunchbox...I filled it with my metal matchbox cars and walloped my cousin over the head with it when he wouldn't stop chasing me with his boogers. He was 4 years older than me and had been told to stop so even though he needed 5 stitches I wasn't in trouble. And that my friends is why the 80's rock!

[@lisajeanlevin]

This makes me so nostalgic. I ask you, who could ever feel nostalgic about the last 6 years or so? 30 years from now adults who grew up in this time will do their best to forget

[@jmcast3195]

You are right. I wonder...

[@FromG2eminor]

Why did the trapper keeper bit give me some tender feels?

[@jackaylward-williams9064]

I rarely got a chance to socialise with anyone from school as a kid, since I lived 35 miles away from the school whereas most of my classmates were from the local area, but there was one time when my best friend told me that she would be up my way at the weekend and asked if we could try and meet up. When I asked my mum the same question, she said that she’d have a chat with my teacher and with the headmaster to see what they thought, and if they were both ok with it, she’d ask them to speak with my friend’s parents so that we could work out a plan. It all ultimately fell through, and I remember thinking wistfully at the time that if we’d only been at school in the 80s, our parents would probably have just let us make our own plans and wouldn’t have even bothered talking to each other directly, let alone communicate through the school.

[@maggiemacha5552]

Thank you for this laugh out loud video 😄 So accurate, the crinkly bit at the end was bonus 😛

[@reneeisaacs4622]

This is everything being a child of the 80s is about 🤣

[@PawPawPandaroo]

I started school in the 69/70 school year......had a Gunsmoke lunchbox with a thermos that had a glass lining....snackpack puddings in the little aluminum containers with the pull tab tops...carried a nickle to school for extra noodles and a dime for the payphone.......good times.....

[@chloejohnson6861]

The 80s: kids go back to school in the fall after "summer vacation." Today: let's force kids to go back to school in August. Oh, and we need a fundraiser so we can put air conditioning in schools, because they didn't have it already for some reason. 🙄

[@asamanyworlds3772]

Yup no air in schools accept in the south you would die without air

[@t.stevens2601]

I feel personally attacked at how much I am the “Now” mom. My angel loves her Bentgo box & fidget popper, ok?! 😆