Episode 8: Chaos & Consequences: Surviving Parenting in the 80s

Were you one of those kids who was tossed a Capri Sun and told to “be home when the streetlights come on”? If so, you already know parenting in the 80s was a different world—equal parts freedom and firm discipline.

In this episode of Call Your Mom Friends, Amey (IBCLC), Lauren (labor nurse), and Charity (bodyworker) rewind to a decade of free-range childhoods, spanking, and food trends that were basically neon science experiments. Join us as we journey back to the 1980s, exploring parenting during a time when seatbelts were optional, and MTV was the latest craze. The hosts swap stories about grounding without gadgets, the rise of “stranger danger,” and why a backyard and a Big Wheel were all the entertainment you needed. From iconic movie one-liners to parenting “expert” advice that hasn’t exactly aged well, we’re laughing, cringing, and questioning how this decade's kids even survived.

Nostalgia for the 80s reminds us of a simpler time—but was it really better, or just different? Together, we consider what lessons today’s parents (and tomorrow’s kids) can carry forward. Discover how the pendulum has swung from survival mode to information overload, and why a little 80s parenting energy might just be what we need today. 

✨ In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Parenting in the 80s was more hands-off compared to today.

• Discipline methods have evolved significantly over the decades.

• Cultural influences from the 80s shaped childhood experiences.

• Food trends in the 80s included processed snacks and neon-colored drinks.

• The concept of 'stranger danger' became prominent during the 80s.

• Parenting “experts”, like Dr. James Dobson, in the 80s had a different approach to child-rearing.

• The evolution of safety measures in parenting reflects societal changes.

So grab yourself a Pudding Pop, pop in a VHS, and join us for a nostalgic ride through the highs, lows, and downright bizarre parenting moments of the 1980s—because nothing says discipline like being told, “Because I said so.”

✨ Fridays are for Call Waiting — our weekly mom-friend call-in segment where real moms share raw, hilarious, and relatable stories you won’t hear in the school pickup line.

🎧 Got a story? Leave us a voicemail. We might just play it on the show.

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Find us on Instagram: @call.your.mom.friends.podcast

 

📌 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Show: 

Circle of Mothers Support Group

 

And connect with us individually:

Charity Spears | Cocoon to Bloom → @cocoon_to_bloom | cocoontobloom.com

Lauren Murdock | Faith > Fear Birth™ → @labor.lauren | laborlauren.com

Amey Fields | AZ Breastfed Babies → @az.breastfedbabies | azbreastfedbabies.com