Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Obviously, She Gets It From Me.

I don't think kids realize how far technology has come. I mean, they read about it in history books and they hear the stories of their grandparents and their parents, but truly they don't get it. Much like I didn't get it when I was their age and couldn't believe that my folks didn't have a T.V. when they were little. I just couldn't imagine life without the Flintstones, Jetsons, or Scooby-Doo.

When I think back to my childhood even I am amazed at how far technology has come. Remember the first cell phones? They were 'attached' to the car or came in large bags. The phone itself was HUGE and they were outrageously expensive. I mean, only the 'rich' people had those. Now, 5 year olds have 'em. What about VCR's? I remember those being like a $1000. My grandparents bought my cousin, and I, T.V.'s for our bedrooms when we were about 9 years old and they were black and white. Color was too expensive.

However, as technology has changed, so have we. We have become accustomed to these modern conveniences and depend on them. A microwave, for instance, is something most families would not want to be without. It certainly cuts cooking time in 1/2 for those of us that are on the run. As a matter of fact, I do the majority of my cooking in a microwave. I didn't realize how much until the day our microwave decided to poop out on us. I also didn't realize that my kiddo's had never lived a life without a microwave. Until my daughter called me at work one day and this exchange took place:

Sam- "Hi mom. I'm really hungry. What should I fix for lunch."

Me- "Well, honey, why don't you fix a sandwich."

Sam- "There's no lunch meat."

Me- "Oh. I guess I better go shopping. Why don't you have some hot dogs. There are plenty of those."

Sam- "Oh yea. I forgot. Oh, wait. We can't have hot dogs."

Me- "Why not?"

Sam- "The microwave is broke. We have no way to fix 'em."


I realized that I hadn't boiled hot dogs on the stove since my kiddo's were really little. She had no idea that there was a 'conventional' way to cook hot dogs. I'm not sure how she thought people in the 'olden days' cooked hot dogs. Maybe she thought hot dogs weren't around in the 'olden days'. OR....maybe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all:)

10 comments:

Carol said...

I forget...what did we use to do with our time when we didn't have computers and blog sites? Yes...technological advances have definitely changed our lives!

Love how you share the conversations you have with your kids! Best way to fix hot dogs is over a camp fire. They even taste better than the ones you can buy for a premium at the ballparks! Not that "hot dogs" was the topic...just threw that out as an opinion, which I give for free...grin.

Nana C said...

Wow! hot dogs rule, we are putting a few on the grill tonight. 3 tv. stations when I was 15 in Indiana. I remember the rabbit ears on top of the tv. or that contraption on the roof, what a mess! Oh well, I am 61 and loving it. Love Nana C

Anonymous said...

Remember the HUGE cable boxes with the cord that attached to the box on top of the TV?

I don't use a microwave - at all. I use to, but I just don't like the emmitents they relieve into the atmosphere, so we use the stove or the microwave!

The girls had such a fun time making popcorn on the stove top whe we did that for the first time.

Susan said...

It was so cute because the first time Sam babysat for us we had hotdogs and we do them in the broiler. I think she thought we were crazy by the look on her face. Now I know why.

Heather said...

@Carol- I totally agree. Hot dogs are best over a camp fire. I'll be looking forward to them when I come visit;)

@Nana-So good to see you back on the blogosphere. Sure missed you Saturday:( Love you!!!

@Lori- OK. DO you or DON'T you use the microwave?? ;) Love ya!

@Susan- Yes! This post definitely explains the 'look':)

Anonymous said...

LOL!!! You can tell I didn't check my comment. Ha Ha Ha!!!

NO - I don't use the micro at all anymore!

I can always count on you to keep me straight ;)

Thanks Sister!

Kathi said...

That's cute. Another thing my kids can't believe is that we didn't have cell phones. The first cell phone I ever saw was bigger than an eraser for a chalkboard. Kathi

Tanya said...

Jeff was telling me that the first computer fit inside a room. Now, we just sit them on our desks at home. I do not remember even owning a VCR, my first cd player was after I married Jeff. Luke asked me what we did when we were kids, we spent the whole day outside. Great post. Love Tanya

Anonymous said...

I love you're post, see I'm not the only one who forgets to mention things to there childern. Wonder how the laundry would get down if they had to hang everthing outside like we did, Do they know what a clothes pin is and how to use it? What a great invention the electric can opener. Love you to the moon and back, Mom

Simplifying me said...

Heather the BEST way to cook a hotdog is to stick it on a fork and turn on the stove top. Grill and turn till all sides are done. It's a tad messy but so yummy. Nothing compares to the campfire but this is really close.