Is there anyone still living who was born before cell phones were ubiquitous? If this were the 1990s, We can guarantee you that instead of reading this post on your mobile device or laptop, you would be out having fun with actual humans. That, though, was also a terrific time, perhaps the best one. If you can still relate to me while being a member of the millennial generation, then you had a fantastic upbringing.
The 1990s were a distinct era, with a very different way of life from the present day. There were no movie theatres, so people had to settle for watching films on television, and there were no hip cafes where people could hang out and socialise.
In such a society, only the wealthy would own high-tech gadgets like cell phones. Back then, people genuinely interacted with one another, as opposed to now when everyone is glued to their phones. We did enjoy ourselves, but it wasn’t without its challenges. What’s the reason? Every child of the ’90s will agree that life was great overall, except for the punishments we received. The penalties were severe, even harsh.
Many parents will go to great lengths to instil discipline in their children. With the shift to a new way of life came a new approach to discipline in the home. This Mother’s Day, while we lovingly select and send mothers day cake and gifts to the most lovely mom, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the disciplinary measures she enacted. Since children of the 1990s having experienced two separate centuries, they are uniquely positioned to recognise the shifts in discipline practises across time.
Grounded in the room
Remember when your mother would yell at the top of her lungs, “Go to your room and don’t come out!” and the entire house would tremble? Sending a child to their room used to be considered cruel, but nowadays, youngsters see it as a godsend because it gives them more time to catch up on their favourite shows while their parents get some peace and quiet.
But back in the day, bedrooms were strictly for sleeping, and the most elaborate decoration you could hope for was a wall clock and some celebrity photos. We felt like we were being tortured by being confined to such a small space for so long. So, this was a common form of discipline employed by mothers.
No dinner for you
You may claim that parents were more severe with their punishments back then. In fact, we skipped dinner one night. The child would be put to bed hungry if he or she had been disobedient. You understand that this is really cruel, especially coming from your parents.
Despite their gentle nature, they knew how to discipline their child to prevent a recurrence of the same problem. It only took the threat of hunger to keep the kids in line until breakfast time. even if we still got food from our mothers in roundabout ways. Even if she reprimanded me, it would make you glad to buy and send Mother Day gifts to mom because mommies are adorable.
Can’t go out to play
Since I’ve previously told you that there wasn’t much to do in the twentieth century, I’ll just add that going outside to play in the evenings, once you’d finished your homework, was the primary form of entertainment and pastime for children of the era.
Because there were no telephones back then, this was the only time of day when you could talk to your pals, catch up on the latest rumours, and confess your feelings for one another. The punishment for us was that we couldn’t go outside and play. When your mum warned you not to go out and play, but you heard other kids playing, how many of you remember crying in the corner? This would hurt far more than a breakup, believe me.
Complaint to teacher
Moms should never involve the teacher in a disciplinary dispute with their children. If you’ve been a very bad kid, she’ll tell your teacher about it, and then they’ll make fun of you in front of the whole class, right? Or maybe they yelled at you and then beat you.
Children of the 20th century may recognise these as typical forms of punishment.