Remember When...

I feel like my generation is really enamored with "remember whens." Remember when Nickelodeon had shows like All That, Hey Arnold, Rugrats, Wild Thornberrys, and Rocket Power? Remember when we used to play with Furbys? Remember when you were nothing without a Tamagotchi or Pokemon cards? Remember when you beat up the neighborhood boys with your Sock'em Boppers?

Here's another one for you: Remember when a teenage girl could walk down the street with a little kid and nobody would automatically assume that he was her son? Yeah, good times.

When I was babysitting today, I took the kiddo to the park. I got a couple stares from "concerned" mothers and one day care facilitator even told one girl to stay away from me because I was busy with my son. Inwardly, I was screaming at her that I was merely the nanny. But I don't know if she would have believed me anyways.

I don't know why people assume these things. It has happened to a few of my friends when they were out and about with their little siblings.

Personally, I blame television. MTV, in particular. 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom are two shows that never needed to air. They give people the idea that all teenage girls who have a toddler glued at their side is a teenage mother. Yes, I'm sure teen motherhood sucks. But you know what? If you weren't raped, it's your own fault for getting knocked up in the first place. That's my own philosophy.


I'm being harsh, aren't I? I suppose I need to love today.