An Article From Huffington Post

Huffington Post recently published an article talking about things that babies born in 2011 will never know. You can read the full article here. It was a pretty funny article and I enjoyed reading it. While there are some things that I agree with (video tapes, encyclopedias, dial up internet), here are the things on the list that my kids will definitely know about/do/have access to… even if just for nostalgia’s sake.

The separation of work and home: 

Josh and I continuously talk about how we want our kids to know how to “unplug”. This is something we have a hard time doing ourselves, since we’ve grown up in the generation that uses the internet for everything. However, when our kids are older, we hope that we’ve taught them that there is a time to turn it off, and just spend time together without doing it through skype, facebook, and twitter.

Books, magazines, and newspapers: 

I was surprised books were on here. Sure, there are about 7 types of e-readers out there (I own one myself), but that definitely doesn’t remove the need for a tangible book. How less cool would it have been to read “Babysitters Club” if you couldn’t have the bookshelf in your room of all 150 of them lined up? There’s something to be said for tangibility, folks.

Paper maps: 

This one will probably be around for nostalgia’s sake. Josh is a BIG advocate for knowing how to read maps, so I’m sure our kids will be well versed in them.

CDs: 

Same with books here. There’s something better about the presentation of a real CD you can hold in your hands. In the last 6 months or so, Josh and I have really started to revert back to disks vs. digital. They will probably not be available for our kids, but you bet our kids will hear their parent’s music via CDs.

Film cameras:  

As long as B&H sells film… I will have it available. To echo Huffington… I’ll be a purist.

One picture to a frame: Josh and I had 2 digital frames… never used. Seriously. I think photographs look so much better when printed. I mean, does the Mona Lisa look better on the computer than up front and personal? No.

Hand-written letters and mail: 

This one is ridiculous to me, but completely believable. Along with other homeschool freak things that our kids will be subject to, they will be reading, “The Art of the 

Handwritten Note”. After all, there’s just something much more personal to a handwritten thank you note. I also want our kids to know what mail is. We get super excited when something arrives in the mail box, plus if we’re overseas… that may be the best way to send things!

Talking to one person at a time: 

I find the texting while carrying on a conversation to be rude. Our kids won’t know what a cell phone is in their own hands until 16. The end. No argument. At 7 years old…there is no place you will be that you need to call me and no one will need to get a hold of you that can’t just call me or their dad.

Anyway, I thought it was fun to go through. Hey Mom and Grandma: what were things you guys used that we have no real understanding of?

Happy Thursday!