I Survived the '80s Without TikTok—Don’t Tell Me I Did It Wrong!

Let me tell you something—back in the '80s, I was raising a kid, holding down a full-time job, and still managing diaper duty, dinner (okay, mostly reheated), and everything in between. I didn’t have a parenting app or a social media guru showing me the ropes. Gourmet meals? Please. The microwave was my best friend, and the local takeout spot knew me by name. And through it all, I rocked shoulder pads like a boss and prayed my Farrah Fawcett perm held.

Now that I’m a grandma, I watch today’s parents scroll TikTok like it’s the parenting Bible. Need to get a baby to sleep? There’s a video. Want a snack idea? Here comes something that looks like it belongs in an art gallery. Some of them even review baby food, like it’s fine dining! I’m not judging—well, maybe a tiny bit—but back in my day, we got by with a whole lot of common sense, pure grit, and that one parenting book we never actually finished reading. We survived. Our kids survived. And never—not once—did I need an app to convince my child to eat peas.

Parenting Before the Digital Age: AKA the Wild West

Parenting in my day? It was like the Wild West—no internet, no influencers, just instinct and hearsay. If you were lucky, you had a dog-eared copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and even then, we mostly skimmed it.

Got a rash to deal with? You poked and sniffed it and maybe asked your neighbor what they thought. Unless it was glowing or growing, you assumed it was fine.

Pinterest? Ours was the back of a cereal box. “Smart” devices? That’d be a Magic 8-Ball. Google? Nope. We had Cosmo (no, it didn’t have parenting advice, but it kept me sane), a couple of parenting books that never stayed open to the right page, and the occasional call to my aunt, who always went off on a wild tangent.

Baby Monitors? Try Parental Instinct and Super-Hearing

These days, baby monitors come with night vision, temperature alerts, and sound sensors—some probably beam the baby’s heartbeat straight to your smartwatch. Fancy, huh?

Back then, our “monitor” was just a light sleeper with a conscience. If the baby coughed, sneezed, or shifted in their crib, we heard it—through walls—in our sleep. And if we didn't? Well, it's called self-soothing.

Screen Time? We Were the Screen!

Nowadays, everyone’s buzzing about limiting screen time. Back then? We were the entertainment.

We sang silly songs, played peekaboo like it was a full-time job, and read the same picture book over and over until we could recite it in our sleep—sometimes while half-crying from exhaustion.

The only break we got was when Sesame Street or Reading Rainbow came on. And if it was a crazy day, the VHS tape came out, and there would be quiet for at least 90 minutes. Yes, in the early days, that was still a thing.

Our Internet Was the Library, and Our ChatGPT Was Grandma

If you had a question in 1989, you didn’t type it into a search bar—you grabbed your library card and prayed the Dewey Decimal System didn’t betray you. And if that failed? You called your mom. Or Auntie Jean.

No AI. No instant answers. Just books, phone calls, and crossed fingers. And you know what? It was enough. Parenting isn’t about having the perfect solution—it’s about showing up, doing your best, and finding the humor in the mess.

We Had Less... and We Did More

We didn’t have a dozen types of baby bottles or fancy machines that whipped up formula like a latte. There were no color-changing bath mats or subscription boxes for developmental toys.

We had one bottle, a clean rag, a squeaky rubber duck, and a whole lotta love. That was it.

Parenting wasn’t this curated Instagram-worthy lifestyle. It was a glorious, exhausting, beautiful mess—full of stretch marks, macaroni art, and the occasional silent meltdown behind a locked bathroom door.

What We Did Have: Common Sense and a Village

We weren’t perfect, but give us some credit—we knew enough to use car seats (even if they looked more like padded laundry baskets), taught our kids about “stranger danger,” and had neighborhood watches long before anyone installed a doorbell cam.

We had instincts. And big hair. Sometimes in equal measure.

But more than that, we had community. Friends, neighbors, church groups—we leaned on each other. If someone needed help, they didn’t post a vague Facebook status. They showed up at your door. Or yelled across the lawn.

And schedules? Oh, we had them. Piano lessons, Girl Scouts, Saturday morning sports—we packed those calendars tight. Maybe we were helicopter parents before the term existed—we didn’t have the drones to prove it.

I Love Today’s Parents (Even If They're a Bit Extra)

Let me be clear—I’m not here to knock modern moms and dads. You’re doing fantastic. Seriously. I see you with your Pinterest color-coded snack drawers and Montessori playrooms. I respect the hustle.

But when you give me that side-eye for handing my grandbaby a lollipop or letting them watch cartoons longer than the “recommended screen time”? Just remember—I made it through the ‘80s. My kid watched He-Man and Inspector Gadget and ate Lunchables, but it still turned out just fine. Better than fine.

The Wisdom I Wish I Googled (But Had to Learn the Hard Way)

Here’s the thing no one tells you—kids don’t need perfect parents. They need love. They need consistency. And they need someone who tries their best... even if they occasionally cry in the laundry room.

Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. If it doesn’t? Put down the phone and roll with it.

Take the picture, but don’t forget to actually live the moment. Your baby’s first steps don’t need a filter. They need your full, goofy, teary-eyed attention.

And laugh. Laugh when the diaper leaks all over your shirt. Laugh when your kid asks where babies come from at the worst possible time. Just laugh. A lot.

Final Word From This '80s Veteran

These days, parenting might involve more technology and information, but the basics are timeless. Love your kids, show up for them, and give yourself a little grace.

Happy Mother’s Day—whether you're knee-deep in diapers or cheering from the grandma bleachers. Breathe, enjoy the chaos, and most of all, celebrate yourself. You’ve earned it.

And please… don’t tell me how to parent. I did it with a landline, a prayer, and a fanny pack full of gummies.

You’re welcome.

Stick Around for More Laughs and Lessons

If you got a chuckle, a flashback, or maybe even a little tear reading this—good. That means you’re doing this parenting (or grandparenting) thing with heart.

And if you’re craving more no-nonsense wisdom from someone who’s been there, done that, and still has juice boxes in her purse “just in case,” you’re in the right place.