Living in the Past Podcast

Ferris Bueller was every teen's hero back in 1986, and his smooth yet deceptive style got him both the car and the girl, and not necessarily in that order. His irreverent attitude, wily ways and his ability to keep one step ahead of his parents and teachers gave him teen "hero" status that continues to this day.

When a life-changing loss occurred, Jennifer Powell took a long, hard look at her life. Realizing that tomorrow is never promised to us and all we have is today, she knew that the time was now to live out her and her family's dreams. Having always wanted to travel the world, Jen, her husband and kids made the collective decision to live our their dreams and to follow their hearts. With a bit of trepidation but even more anticipation and excitement, they sold their house, packed up their remaining items and set forth towards an incredible and unforgettable experience that would change their lives forever. Over eight months, Jen and her family traveled across six continents and through 21 countries. Their experiences while abroad were both life-changing and inspiring.

In this episode of the Parenting Then and Now podcast, listen to Jen's reasons for taking the bull by the horns and for living out her dreams, how her childhood growing up with an adventurous parent shaped her world views on parenting today, and how her husband and kids adapted to traveling the world and living the nomadic lifestyle so different from what they were used to.

How are you feeling today?

In 1975, all it took to find out the answer to this question was a quick glance at a person's ring finger.

Like its ‘70’s counterpart the Pet Rock, "Mood Rings" burst onto the jewelry scene, enticing those who wanted to know how they - and people they cared about - were feeling at any given moment.  Containing a thermochromic element such as liquid crystal, Mood Rings changed colour based on the body temperature of the person wearing the ring.

The initial price of the jewelry was $45 which also included a “mood chart” that one could consult to find out how they were feeling, based on the ring’s colour. As you can imagine, this magical "ability" of the ring soon made it the must-have item of the year.

At the height of their popularity, $1 million worth of Mood Rings were sold within a three month period, with famous fans of the jewelry item including such high-profile icons as Sophia Loren, Barbara Streisand and many others.

And while the novelty of the rings wore off over time, their lasting image as one of the benchmarks of an era – the 1970’s – continues on today.

Things sure have changed for kids in the past 30-40 years. Ditto for parents. Life seemed easier and less threatening back in the day.

Children could be latchkey kids and that was fine. Parents let their sons and daughters play outside without much fear of danger. Toys were sometimes unsafe, but parents bought them for their kids anyway.

Why?

And why, in the past few decades, was there a sudden shift towards fear regarding all things child-related? What happened?

In this episode of Parenting Then and Now, Sam seeks to find the answers to these and other questions through her chat with Dr. Sean Hayes, a Clinical Psychologist who consults with a variety of businesses and organizations about how and why these societal shifts have occurred.

There was a time when entertainment wasn't "on demand." With no 24/7 digital content, YouTube or Netflix, kids had to get their viewing kicks via an archaic yet much-loved activity: waking up early to watch cartoons on a Saturday morning.

The fun and festivities often began before the sun rose, as intrepid and eager children hunkered down to get their fix of their favourite TV characters.

With the advent of digital technology and the popularity of the Internet, there became no need to schedule TV-watching any longer. Sadly, kids were able to watch whenever they wanted, eliminating the need to wake up early in anticipation of their favourite shows.

Image courtesy of Warner Brothers/Leon Schlesinger Productions

Married at age 19, directly out of high school, Karen Finocchio, aka "One Tough Muther," had four children by the age of 28. By the age of 30, she chose to leave the marriage and became a divorced single mother to three young sons ages 4, 7 and 9 years old and a 2-year-old daughter. In a blink of an eye, Karen went from living around the world as a military wife to living in two rooms in her parent’s home with four children and a dog.Karen Finocchio, aka "One Tough Muther"

She could have been a statistic, but through hard work, perseverance and a positive outlook, Karen became the success that few could only dream of being. Today, Karen helps women around the world find their true path, and provides advice and support to others as part of her #OTM tribe. Listen to this episode of Parenting Then and Now where Karen explains what it was like raising kids as a single parent in the '80's, her advice for parents today, and how she remains both successful yet grounded.

In the latter part of the 1990's the Spice Girls, a London-based "girl group," tore up the charts around the world with their smash hit, "Wannabe." Proclaiming "girl power" for females young and old, the group went on to global success and by the end of the decade, had become the fastest selling British act since the Beatles. And although the band went on indefinite hiatus at the beginning of the '00's, the band continues to influence female pop groups and individual singers, such as Adele, who credit the Spice Girls as an inspiration.

A simple toy, so basic in its construction, became one of the most defining fads of the 1950's.

Originally created by Arthur K. Melin and Richard Knerr, the hula hoop craze took full effect in the late 1958 when Wham-O, a toy company in California, created a plastic version for the general public to enjoy. Through smart marketing to women, men, kids and basically anyone who wanted to give them a spin, hula hoops became all the rage in 1958. By the end of the year, 25 million of them were sold and by 1960, sales reached in excess of 100 million units. For more information, images and video, visit www.ptanpodcast.com and click on "Retro Memories."

In this episode of Parenting Then and Now, the creator and host of the popular The New Family Podcast, Brandie Weikle, joins Sam to discuss changes to family life, parenting, kids and expectations both then - and now.

Brandie provides some sage advice derived from her many interviews with a variety of different families as part of her podcast, and discusses her thoughts on structured and unstructured play, childhood responsibility and more.

Who would have thought that by packaging some rocks in a cardboard box with holes, and providing an "instruction manual" for the care and maintenance of said rocks, that one California entrepreneur would become a millionaire in a few short months? Listen to this episode of the PTAN Retro Memory for details on the "Pet Rock" craze that hit the marketplace just in time for Christmas in 1975.

For more information, pictures and video, visit www.ptanpodcast.com and click on "Retro Memories."