For the past few weeks, every time I have logged onto social media, I see many posts about stress, prayer requests and flat out bad days. It seems like everyone around me is stressed or worried about something. Indie pop band Twenty One Pilots even released a song called "Stressed Out."
Their lyrics croon to their listeners, "Wish we could turn back time, to the good ol’ days, when our momma sang us to sleep but now we’re stressed out." This song produced some nostalgia about the good ole' days, or in my case, elementary school in the early 2000s. So if you remember any of these icons of the early days, please stand up!
1. Limited Too
The sequins. The Bermuda shorts. The doorway beads. Limited Too was the ish, and according to elementary logic, if you didn't wear it, you weren't cool. As soon as you got your allowance, you begged your mom to take you so you could get your sparkly dancer shirt.
2. Lizzie McGuire
"I want a bra, OK? A bra is what I want! I want a bra!" Lizzie was like our soul sister. Her style was our goals. We felt her pain when we wanted our first bras! She was such a relatable character that she was real to us. Lizzie taught us to be ourselves and to take a chill pill. She made sure that we knew that no one, not even Kate Sanders, could bring us down. We love you, Lizzie!
3. The School Store
This was the spot to get the coolest zebra pencil or the best smelly erasers. You saved up those dimes and quarters to get the best school supplies on the block. Or maybe a little stuffed animal. That's essential for school, right? Little did we know, the school store was another way of teaching us how to handle money. And handle it we did!
4. Dodgeball Days
Dodgeball days were serious. You were in it to win it (oh yeah). Dodgeball days allowed us to see how quickly we could avoid the ball by bending like we came out of "The Matrix." Some kids could dodge (me), some could ball and some could even do both. Let's be honest, those foam balls were not as soft as they looked.
5. 'Bridge to Terabithia'
The feels! The nostalgia! The tears! This was the first book I can remember crying, no sobbing, over. Every single kid in my class cried, whether they liked to admit it or not. Leslie and Jess had a powerful friendship and imagination that we dreamt about. We joined their adventures in joy, sadness, laughter and tears. Thank you Leslie for teaching us to close our eyes, but keep our minds wide open.
6. Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart
Whenever these logos began appearing around your school, it was on. Not only was it great competition, it was for a charitable cause! I'm pretty still I still have a T-shirt somewhere. Oh and remember the fundraiser prizes? Good times.
7. School Holiday Parties
Every child's favorite days and every teacher's most hated days. All the sugar you could dream of in one day? Yes please! From Valentine's Day to Christmas, and everything in between, it was a time where the best Valentine mailbox and cheesy Rudolph crafts ruled the grade.
8. Scholastic Book Fairs
Chances are you spent more money on frilly pens, lenticular (3D) bookmarks, and racecar pencils than you did on books. Book fairs were a magical time. Can we also appreciate the image shown includes "Harry Potter," "Eragon" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"?
9. Red Ribbon Week
Remember these guys? I still find them in my closet sometimes. Red Ribbon Week was the main week kids were able to dress up and look as zany as they could. We had crazy hair day, hat day, crazy sock day, pajama day and countless other theme days throughout the years. Doors were decorated and we were taught the do's and don'ts of teenage years.
10. Weekly Television Guides
I almost forgot this glorious antique. As soon as one came in the mail, I would write down every time "Lizzie McGuire" came on and made sure to post it where all could see. Oh how far technology has come...
11. The Birds And Bees...
The terrible, very bad, no good, horrible day when the boys and girls were separated for the first time. We looked at our teachers in horror - our bodies do what? It was so extremely awkward, we almost don't want to remember it.
13. Easy Extra Credit
Extra credit? What is this extra credit you speak of? Throwback to the days when we could bring in extra school supplies such as paper, dry erase markers and paper towels for extra credit. Maybe I will see if my math teachers need any of these...
14. Heelys
First light up Sketchers, now shoes with wheels in them? What a world to live in! Because of safety reasons, there was only a short time to zoom around the hallways in them before they were banned. I never had them because I was so clumsy, but boy did I admire them from afar.
15. High School Musical
Last but definitely not least, the beloved "High School Musical." I remember the night it debuted on Disney channel. I plopped down in front of the TV before it started so I could set it up to record it on a VHS (gasp!). From the moment Troy and Gabriella soared and flew, our hearts were theirs. We could only hope our high school days would be as amazing as theirs.
There you have it! I hope these icons bring back happy memories! Do you think I missed something? Comment below!
