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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask for your 80s/90s childhood memories

61 replies

Taptaptapster · 14/04/2025 20:26

I've been reading the current thread about things that were different about childhood in the past, but most of the posters are talking about the 60s and 70s (I guess the Mumsnet demographic skews older than I imagine it!).

I was born in the 80s, and while some stuff about my childhood was different, it was nothing like as extreme as the posts on that thread.

For example

  • we played out, but not far from home and my parents always knew where we were
  • we had child car seats and always used seatbelts
  • nobody in my family smoked. At primary, I think teachers smoked in the staffroom, but never in front of the kids. By secondary , they had to hide somewhere off site.
  • I was smacked if I was naughty, but never experienced any of the crazy violence described on the other thread.

So, tell me your 80s and 90s childhood memories. AIBU to think we were the luckiest generation of all??

OP posts:
Araminta1003 · 14/04/2025 20:43

Yes Woolworths sweets and pick and mix and teen mags.

mewkins · 14/04/2025 20:43

Lex345 · 14/04/2025 20:40

I remember TV being a lot more crap, but more of a family activity like saturday night we would all watch Gladiators or Noel's house party

I can't remember how any of us managed to make plans and meet up using only landline phones

Buying CDs and tapes in Woolworths and listening to the whole album/ b sides on singles

Phone cards featured heavily 😆

I loved tv growing up. We used to watch a lot of sitcoms and quiz shows.

Araminta1003 · 14/04/2025 20:42

My best memories are going absolutely everywhere on my bike, Saturday morning TV as a child as a special treat, my parents had no clue what after school clubs I did in secondary (took myself everywhere), I used to go out with friends from 13 and get up to lots, played out a lot, my parents had no clue what homework I was set and barely knew what GCSEs I was taking, I spent hours on the phone to my best girlfriends from about 10 years old, talking about not very much.
I also remember cherry knocking and water balloon fights and long days at the beach in the freezing cold, but really fun. We went to the South of France on holiday a few times and it was incredibly hot. We saw extended family incredibly frequently. Lots of Sunday roasts.
And yes to 90s summer holidays! Best times ever and no control from any adults either.

Icanttakeanymore1 · 14/04/2025 20:42

Playing out, lived rurally and covered huge distances between friends houses.

AdversePossession · 14/04/2025 20:42

Born in the 80s too - playground equipment was different then!

Lex345 · 14/04/2025 20:40

I remember TV being a lot more crap, but more of a family activity like saturday night we would all watch Gladiators or Noel's house party

I can't remember how any of us managed to make plans and meet up using only landline phones

Buying CDs and tapes in Woolworths and listening to the whole album/ b sides on singles

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 14/04/2025 20:39

I was born in the 80s. We played out all the time. Parents had a vague idea where we were sometimes. We wore seat belts unless we were in a car without them (some back seats didn't have them) or there were loads of kids squashed in. We were allowed out from primary school to roam the streets at lunchtime from around 6 or 7, loads of kids walked home for lunch. Every public space had a smoking and a no smoking section. I was smacked but never hard enough to leave a mark.

MarketPaper · 14/04/2025 20:38

Cherry knocking.

Nicking my dad's fags.

Pogs.

Actual summers.

MikeRafone · 14/04/2025 20:34

where is the other thread - im too old for this one!

boxtop · 14/04/2025 20:33

Kids still play out near me.

No gratuitous violence for me either.

Boglins, Funfax, hedgehog crisps.

MynameisJune · 14/04/2025 20:31

I was born early 80’s

my mum never knew where we were, my Dad was always at work. Both parents, all grandparents and family friends smoked. Don’t recall seeing teachers smoke but went to quite a posh secondary school.

I was smacked, occasionally I was slapped across the face for minor infractions.

But yes I’d take my wildly free childhood and teenage years over growing up any time since. The internet and social media have ruined so many things.

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