I’m Calling 90’s, I Miss You

I was born in the late 80’s, so most of my childhood memories are of the early 90’s. I am sure there are plenty of readers whom will know much of what I am speaking of when I mention all of the ways my childhood has now affected my adulthood and the things that will make me stop and smile, even years later. I grew up through the rubber band bracelets, Tamagotchi (most of mine were taken by my third grade teacher, Mrs. Byers, because I just could not let my little aliens die in the middle of a geography test. I just couldn’t.) and of course all of the infamous Snick shows and other “classics”.

What 90’s kid doesn’t remember sitting down to eat their favorite bowl of processed sugar (French Toast Crunch or Cookie Crisps, buddy!!) while watching Bobby’s World or the original, non-humanized/sexualized My Little Ponies. You know the ones. The ponies that had real names, relatable stories and so much innocence that it is something I would be all right with my daughter’s having as an example of morals and values.

After a fun day of playing with neighborhood friends, or doing chores around the house because your parents were heckling you, you sat down for the best part of your Saturday night. Kenan and Kel, All That, Clarissa Explains It All, Pete & Pete and of course, the always loved, Are You Afraid of the Dark?. I will admit that my inner child had to share these shows, amongst others that I will get to shortly, with my children. The laughter, the silliness, and undeniable relating to the characters because of their realness — it is not something easily found in today’s TV show line up.

Too often in our society, girls, from very young ages, are forced with the idea that they have to be beautiful to be noticed. They are not allowed to be quirky or have awkward moments. The “role models” children have today stop so short of what children in the 90’s grew up with. I watched Legend of the Hidden Temple and saw kids competing with knowledge and physical strength. I watched Guts on Nickelodeon and it made me want to get off my ass and in to the street so maybe one day I could be that kid who raced to the top of the pyramid and won.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Not all shows were valiant and so interactive. But they had something a lot of shows don’t have to day and that is: They lacked the sexualization of children. You didn’t have 9 year old girls wearing mini skirts and a face full of make up like they were hitting the club on a weekend. We had Amanda Bynes Ask Ashley or we had Lori Beth Dengberg’s Vital Information which always made me laugh. Even Kenan Thompson’s Pierre Escargot was enough to make your bladder burst. There was innocence in it. One of my all time favorites, which to this day is my favorite, brings me to tears and makes me think “I can relate, so much” was My So-Called Life. Two words: Jordan Catalano. Plus, I related so much to the character Ricky Vasquez because I will forever have that image of him bleeding, face first in the snow, after being beaten up by his family and thrown out: for being gay. (Which later helped me overcome my own fears about my own sexual orientation and identification as a pansexual.)

But there was something else that all of the shows from my child had, that TV shows today lack. There was no meddling with who is dating who, drama in elementary school with stilettos and miniskirts like it is an audition for the toddler version of Clueless. It was the rawest form of innocence that has made me go back, after all these years, and purchase any of these shows that I can find. I have My So-Called Life on DVD, Kenan and Kel: Complete Collection on DVD, Legends of the Hidden Temple on DVD and so many more. When my children ask to watch a show with me, these are the shows they want. Why? My daughter, who is 7 years old, made a comment how these girls look more like her and how they don’t wear make up like a grown up. I already have my daughter staring at her body in the mirror because she doesn’t look like the girls in today’s media and feels out of place.

The 90’s seemed more inclusive and less judgmental than how shows seem today. It seems like in order for any show to be successful, for adults or children, the show needs to be sexualized or everyone’s make-up must always be “on fleek”, even if you’re in 3rd grade. The 90’s, in and of themselves, are what is nostalgia for me. I look at my children, I read the news and I feel this pressure in my chest and I ache for them. For their innocence and for their future. I look at them and wish the world was what it was when I grew up. But the world is a dark place, so my nostalgic thoughts are all I have to keep the memory of the 90s alive, not just for me but for my kids. So they can know what a true childhood is like, free from worries about physical attributes and doing what kids are supposed to do best: be kids.