One thing I hate about being a 90s kid is that I was not allowed to do anything fun that could potentially injure me, because religious conservative Boomer parents were afraid of anything and everything back then. I wasn’t even allowed to play StarCraft because it had “craft” in the name, and “craft” was associated with Witchcraft. My dad wouldn’t even pump gas without inspecting the handle closely beforehand because he thought get people were gluing HIV-infected needles to them.
Even after I moved out he would constantly come over unannounced to check on me. If I refused to answer, he’d call the police and file a missing person’s report. I was actually somewhat relieved when he died a couple of years ago, because for the first time in my life, I was allowed to be an independent adult at the age of 35
Not from what I saw on the news back then. The 90s (especially the early 90s after Rodney King) was fear-mongering central. Maybe you were just lucky enough to have parents who could see through the bullshit being fed to them on the 5 'o clock news. Back then everybody watched the local news.
This post makes me question my interpretation of events.
I have acquaintances who seem to have a paranoid belief that every other person in the world is a paedophile just waiting for an opportunity to kidnap their child. Growing up in the 90s, I had a great deal of freedom in comparison to this thought process. I played cricket on the streets, I walked around the neighbourhood without concern, I walked my dog in the evenings. My parents didn’t seem to think I would be unsafe without them around to coddle me.
I guess no matter the generation there are parents who go too far in one extreme or another… Though tbh, being concerned about witchcraft seems more medieval than boomer. Sorry for your loss, but I’m glad you feel more free now. I imagine it must be a complex mix of emotions.
That blows, because we’re similar age, I’m born in '87, and I look back fondly at the freedom I had as a kid. It’s a bit how I intend to model my parenting around, although it’s hard to escape modern times in my mind sometimes. But my kids will wander around the neighborhood alone (in a couple of years, still too young), get dirty, stay out til the sun goes down, that kind of thing, with the caveat of not bothering people and their properties. Probably easier said than done on my part, we shall see.
Fellow 90s kid, my parents were exactly the same. Religious background, fox news constantly, I once didn’t text back within 2 hours and had a neighbor contacted via Facebook knocking on my door in my 30s (to be fair I work on call so it’s atypical). I got lectured at 18 for buying an m rated game in front of them… Police report was a bit much; but I you aren’t alone.
One thing I hate about being a 90s kid is that I was not allowed to do anything fun that could potentially injure me, because religious conservative Boomer parents were afraid of anything and everything back then. I wasn’t even allowed to play StarCraft because it had “craft” in the name, and “craft” was associated with Witchcraft. My dad wouldn’t even pump gas without inspecting the handle closely beforehand because he thought get people were gluing HIV-infected needles to them.
Even after I moved out he would constantly come over unannounced to check on me. If I refused to answer, he’d call the police and file a missing person’s report. I was actually somewhat relieved when he died a couple of years ago, because for the first time in my life, I was allowed to be an independent adult at the age of 35
90s kid here: Your parents were just insane.
Not from what I saw on the news back then. The 90s (especially the early 90s after Rodney King) was fear-mongering central. Maybe you were just lucky enough to have parents who could see through the bullshit being fed to them on the 5 'o clock news. Back then everybody watched the local news.
This post makes me question my interpretation of events.
I have acquaintances who seem to have a paranoid belief that every other person in the world is a paedophile just waiting for an opportunity to kidnap their child. Growing up in the 90s, I had a great deal of freedom in comparison to this thought process. I played cricket on the streets, I walked around the neighbourhood without concern, I walked my dog in the evenings. My parents didn’t seem to think I would be unsafe without them around to coddle me.
I guess no matter the generation there are parents who go too far in one extreme or another… Though tbh, being concerned about witchcraft seems more medieval than boomer. Sorry for your loss, but I’m glad you feel more free now. I imagine it must be a complex mix of emotions.
That blows, because we’re similar age, I’m born in '87, and I look back fondly at the freedom I had as a kid. It’s a bit how I intend to model my parenting around, although it’s hard to escape modern times in my mind sometimes. But my kids will wander around the neighborhood alone (in a couple of years, still too young), get dirty, stay out til the sun goes down, that kind of thing, with the caveat of not bothering people and their properties. Probably easier said than done on my part, we shall see.
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Fellow 90s kid, my parents were exactly the same. Religious background, fox news constantly, I once didn’t text back within 2 hours and had a neighbor contacted via Facebook knocking on my door in my 30s (to be fair I work on call so it’s atypical). I got lectured at 18 for buying an m rated game in front of them… Police report was a bit much; but I you aren’t alone.
Side note I would recommend this nostalgic song: high fives - 90s kid anthem by Dr awkward