We are approaching our 20s, and pretty soon we will be attending each other's weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, etc. I wanted to grow up so quickly that I forgot about how much fun it was to be a kid. We all know of those hot, summer days where our friends' bikes were laying around in the front yard and we were having the time of our lives on the swing set in the backyard. What else do we miss from those carefree days?
1. Webkinz
We all had one, and it was our duty to log in to Webkinz World and ensure that our prized virtual pet was healthy and happy. We would build Webkinz mansions, decorate the "house" our animals lived in, play games with other Webkinz users, and we all convinced our parents that paying over 20 dollars for a fluffy animal that had a secret code was reasonable. Not going to lie, I think I had close to 20 of these ridiculously expensive animals. Now, you can get one for a few dollars. What a time to be alive...
2. Tamagotchi
Again a virtual pet, we had these little egg shaped gadgets in all different colors and styles, and we treated our Tamagotchis like our very own children. The Tamagotchi epidemic was one that a small part of me wishes was still around today. There was nothing more gratifying than seeing your little digital animal grow. Honestly though, do these things still exist?
3. Silly Bandz
This rubber band bracelet is mind boggling to me. Who would have thought to tweak a common household item into children's "jewelry"? Looking back, I probably had 400+ of these things. It turned into a collectible — ranging from various shapes, themes, colors. I'm mostly mad because whoever thought of this probably made millions. Why couldn't I think of this!
4. PictoChat
If you had a Nintendo DS, you know what I'm talking about. With PictoChat, you could connect several devices and talk to your friends over a limited distance. It was the iMessage of 2005.
5. Nintendogs
When your parents didn't let you have an actual puppy, this was one way you tried to convince them you were responsible enough to have a pet. Nintendogs were so realistic and we all had grown attached to them that realizing you forgot to feed your dog on your Nintendo was close to a crisis.
Nowadays, kids are glued to their parents' iPhones, iPads, laptops, and TVs that it makes me cringe. I'm glad I had the childhood that I did. I could have expanded this list to include all of the games and ideas we made up as kids, but here's just a glimpse into what growing up from 2000 to 2010 (give or take) included. Those were the times...
