It’s been a long time since Jen’s Guy (my husband) and I have teamed up on a post together, and we KNOW all of you have really been missing it, right?! Anyways, our oldest daughter Sam just turned 16 and has started dating. We have noticed quite a few differences in how the whole dating thing goes down nowadays, versus how it was when he and I were in the dating world. We have tried to point these out to her, but instead felt a detailed list of some of the most significant differences, which we could use during future discussions, would be most helpful. So here we go, join us for a stroll down the 90’s dating memory lane!
Today’s Daters Do Not Know What It Is Like To Have To Call The Home Phone To Ask Someone Out
Jen’s Guy: Yeah, there was nothing in this world quite as terrifying as cold calling a girl to ask her out.
Jen: C’mon it wasn’t that bad. . .
Jen’s Guy: Remember that kids didn’t have cell phones or personal lines back then, when you called the odds of the girl you are calling actually answering the phone were practically nil. There was nothing like having to speak to the girl’s father or mother to tell them you were calling to ask their daughter out. Both were still preferable to getting the little sister. “Veronica, there’s a BOY on the phone!”
Jen: Pretty sure I was that little sister, every single time. No regrets!
Jen’s Guy: That was assuming that you actually got the right number in the phone book. Otherwise you would go about informing the girl’s distant relatives with the same last name that you were calling to ask out their niece or nephew until one of them was kind enough to give you the right number.
Jen: Heh, I remember phone books!
Jen’s Guy: All in all, it was the stuff of nightmares. . .
Finding Out Someone Liked You After You Heard A Song Dedicated To You On The Radio
Jen: Yep, before Facebook, relationship statuses were publicly declared by dedicating a song on the local radio station to the object of your affection.
Jens Guy: “Status-In a relationship with Steve Thomas. Initiating “Love Bites” by Def Leppard. . .”
Jen: It was way more romantic than that! The best is when they would actually record the person on the phone with the personal message, “I have never in my life loved someone more than Arnold, he is my everything!”
Jen’s Guy: In all 16 years of her life? Big if true!
Jen: “He’s just so cool! Cool as ice! I’m dedicating “Ice, Ice Baby!”
Jen’s Guy: Arrrghhh! I had repressed that stuff. The truth, it’s burning!
Jen: I guess that is why we would all eventually move onto the personalized mix tapes. Now THOSE were epic!
Jen’s Guy: Yep, we already covered them. We keep you pretty well INFORMED here, in a general manner. . .
Jen: Just stop. . .
How You Met Guys and Girls Before Social Media
Jen’s Guy: Literally picking a street and driving up and down it, yelling at other teenagers out of the car window.
Jen’s Daughter: Please, no! Mom, he’s making this up, right?
Jen: Sigh. . .
Jen’s Daughter: SERIOUSLY!
Jen’s Guy: And I made it look GOOD!
Jen: We called it “Cruising Speedway.”
Jen’s Daughter: Oh, I’m out!
Jen’s Guy: My stereo system was worth more than my car.
Jen: OK, this might be enough for today. Seeing as how the teenager just left the room and all. But never fear, we will be back some day in the near future to add to this list. And you are more than welcome to add your own mind blowing dating realities your kids would never understand in the comments section below!
Before you go make sure to sign up for my email list!
Love,Jen
Comments
This totally brought me back and made me smile more than you know on this early, Monday morning here. thanks for the trip down memory lane to both of you :)
Janine Huldie recently posted…Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
Nothing like those cringe worthy dating memories to start off the day right?! :)
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
I remember these things, but I’m old enough to do so. We had a party line and other could listen to our conversations. Oh the good old days.
Have a fabulous day and week, Jen. ♥
Sandee recently posted…Awww Mondays & Sparks
A party line! That actually sounds fun or maybe a little traumatizing thinking of what you could potentially hear… Probably both at the same time right?!
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
This is hilarious and very accurate. Today’s teenagers are so deprived in a way, lol. Cannot wait until I am in your shoes in a few years. Not really:)
Milena | Craft Beering recently posted…How to Make Spent Grain Flour
Thanks and good luck my friend, because nothing makes you feel quite so old as sending your child out the door on a date!
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
haha.. we did just yell to each other, didn’t we?
I remember my first date. My mom and grandfather had to drop me off at the mall and then I had to meet them at a specified time later!
Tamara recently posted…5 Lunchtime Routines to Improve Your Whole Day
OK, I might have had one like that too. And we thought we were so mature…..
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
Hah! These are all kind of hilarious. I always hated calling people’s home phones, for any reason, because you did usually get someone other than the one you wanted first answering.
Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Blog All About It: Red Hair…And a Hand Me Down Robe?
Ugh, for real right?! Not only the calling, but waiting on the person who answered to find the person you called somewhere in the house!
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
This cracks me up! So true!
We were hot messes weren’t we?! Must be why I still do so ell in the hot mess department :)
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
Then once you started dating you made the mixed tapes for them; ah the 90’s were fun!
Mother of 3 recently posted…Virtual Refrigerator Art Link Party– Painting Like the Masters
Please please please write more on this subject. This was sooooo much fun to read. I TOTALLY forgot about dedicating songs to folks on the radio. That was awesome. Personalized mixed tapes – I think I still have one. Meeting people at the roller skating rink and doing the “snowball” was my favorite. xoxo
Caryn recently posted…Dining Out Healthy
The snowball, I had forgotten about that! I tried to take my kids roller skating a few years ago and they just complained the whole time. So much is lost on these young people :) Especially the art of yelling as a form of picking someone up! :
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
Hi Jen, I often think we had it better as teenagers. Less pressure. After reading this I’m not so sure. Social media is a huge game changer in the dating game and youngsters are so much more confident now… I remember a thing at school where couples would sway scarfs as a token of their devotion. So funny when I think about it now!… Sam should really be counting her lucky stars that times have changed!
xx
Debbie recently posted…The Keeping It Real Link Up #4
Swapping scarves, oh that’s fancy! I think I should get Jen’s Guy a scarf just so he and I can do that :)
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up #102
OMG, you had me rolling over here! I remember all of this! You guys are too cute!
Lowanda J recently posted…Glossies Made Me Do It: Gratitude Meter
LOL, this brought back so many good memories Jen. Thanks for the weekend smile. I’m going to share with my daughter ;-)