To my childhood: thank you.

When I grew up, there were no iPads, iPhones or Apple Watches. We didn't have Netflix at our disposal. In order to even use the internet, you had to disconnect your phone. When I was a kid, we had Gameboys and Barbie Dolls. We had VHS tapes and CD players. We had our imaginations. And for all of those things, I owe my childhood a thank you.

Growing up, one of my favorite things to do was play outside. Whether I was riding my bike, raking leaves into one giant pile and jumping in them or playing with my American Girl Dolls outside, I spent more time outside than I did inside. Sometimes, I'd play baseball, kickball or soccer with my neighbors. But now, I rarely see kids outside. Instead, I see kids addicted to the newest iPhone or fighting with their siblings over who gets to play the Xbox next. Many of these kids will never know what life was like before smart phones became a thing.

Don't get me wrong, we had technology, too. We had Gameboys, and GameCubes, CD players and all other sorts of things, too. We had Gameboy cartridges that we sometimes had to blow into to use. And of course, if you've never rewound a VHS tape, you haven't lived. Now, videos are instantaneously accessible. You can download essentially any video game you want off of the internet. CD-Rom games are a thing of the past.

Time has changed technology and parenting styles. I don't know many four year olds who don't know how to use an iPhone or iPad. One thing I do know is that growing up in the 90s is a thing of the past. Gone are the days of Playhouse Disney. Gameboys are considered vintage and out-of-date. Wifi is a given in any household. People today spend more time "connected" to their devices and only time will tell how it affects the world in the future. I'll always thank my childhood for giving me an imagination, patience and independence. I hope that kids growing up now are able to gain the same experiences, no matter how they come to be.