There is nothing like a visit to my daughter and grandchildren to bring back a flood of memories. I watched eight-year-old Natalie dutifully do her math and spelling homework. I observed a gymnastics class and had the pleasure of viewing my almost-four-year-old boygirl twins dropped off at preschool, one happy and nonchalant, the other not.
I also met numerous harried mothers of young children as they dropped children off at the various activities and watched my daughter (with pride I might add) as she navigated her little flock through the busy channels of a 2013 childhood.
When all was said and done, being old enough to have adult children wasn’t a bad thing, I told myself as my plane lifted from the St. Louis airport, bringing me back to my peaceful life in Grand Marais. But my memories did make me yearn for a time machine so I could return to 1980 with several conveniences that modern mothers enjoy that weren’t available then.
First, are the really cool store-bought Halloween costumes.
Back in the 70s and 80s, good Halloween costumes were simply not on store shelves. They came from talented mothers who sewed them. I was not one of those mothers but my six-year-old daughter yearned for beautiful princess outfits, and my four-year-old son longed to be the Incredible Hulk.
So I tried. I decorated old nightgowns (well, they are gowns) and dug up costume jewelry to fabricate unconvincing tiaras, trying for the “princess” look. As for the “Hulk,” green pants cut off at the knees and torn shirt sleeves to mimic the instantaneous muscle growth of the Hulk’s arms were the best I could do. But, at the school Halloween party, as I gazed, awestruck, at the beautiful and clever outfits made by other mothers, I understood that my family would win no prizes.
Nowadays, my daughter simply goes to a big lot store and buys fantastic costumes. This year she purchased a charming mermaid dress for Cami, and Natalie received a lovely vampire outfit. My daughter also found a “Hulk” outfit at Costco for Colin with musculature and padded muscles that would bring joy to the heart of every little boy under the age of thirty.
Businesses that cater to children are another wonderful feature of modern life. Life as a parent is much easier if the dentist bribes a kid into happiness by giving away toys and fun toothbrushes. I resorted to offering treats at the Dairy Queen or Joynes to make a visit to the dentist or doctor palatable to my offspring. Not so nowadays.
Dentists, hair stylists, doctors do the bribing. Businesses geared to the wants and needs of children are easily available. My mouth dropped to discover that my grandchildren love going to the dentist. With chairs designed like toy cars and good tasting gunk in their mouths, why would a kid complain? Little boys don’t mind getting haircuts when they can sit in a chair and play with the pretend steering wheel while the stylist efficiently clips hair.
However, I did discover one feature that I would not bring back to the past—Darth Vader tennis shoes that make the heavy breathing noise of that famous villain. Yep. Such a thing exists, and my grandson wears them.
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