Throwback to the '80s

Has anyone else noticed that the cartoons available for our kids today are nothing like the good, wholesome, slap-stick cartoons of yesteryear? Just the other day, Zeke asked me to put on some shows for him on tv. I went to the usual channels in our house: Noggin, Sprout, PBS. But every show I rattled off just didn't tickle his fancy.

"I want to watch a superhero show, Mom, not a little kid show."

I paused for thought. This coming from the kid who adores Handy Manny, Max and Ruby, and Lil' Bill?? He even turned down The Backyardigans!! *pause for effect* He NEVER turns down The Backyardigans! I thought about checking him for a fever; surely he wasn't feeling well.

Some time last year, Hubby and I were browsing on YouTube together and were looking at retro '80s tv commercials. We stumbled upon a video with a wonderful mosaic of intros to various cartoons from the '80s, like the original Transformers and X-Men before they were kitted out with new outfits and fancier super powers. We saw the Gummie Bears, the Smurfs (granted that's still on now), Inspector Gadget, Jem and the Misfits, just to mention a few.

Now we have cartoons about people blowing things up and trying to kill others. Where's the fun in that?

I will say that Zeke has an appreciation for some of the classics like Tom and Jerry and The Flintstones, two of my favorites from way back when. But I guess my little boy is growing up and ready to move onto bigger (though not necessarily better) things.

Here's to the '80s kid in a lot of us, those of us considered "Generation X."

And on that note, I'll just take my E.T. lunchbox, Alf cup, and My Little Pony backpack and head on over to the break room.