The Ritual of the Video Store
Back in my day (yep, I’m officially old enough to start sentences like that), “family movie night” meant a trip to the local video shop. Rows of plastic cases, that smell of stale carpet, and the stress of choosing between Airheads or The Mighty Ducks 2. The real drama? Hoping no one had rented the last copy — or worse, forgetting to rewind it and copping the dreaded “Be Kind, Rewind” fine.
Instant Gratification, Kid-Style
Fast-forward to now. My kids treat streaming like a human right. My 6-year-old demands Bluey season 3, episode 14 — instantly. The 4-year-old insists on the exact Peppa Pig episode with muddy puddles. The 2-year-old? She just wants something playing right this second.
If the Wi-Fi lags for even half a second, the meltdown makes my old VHS tracking-line tantrums look like a meditation retreat.
The Contrast is Real
I once sat through a fuzzy VHS of Jurassic Park taped off TV — complete with ads for Aerogard and Pizza Hut — and thought it was magic.
My kids? They skip intros like they’re allergic to theme songs. (Do you even know the lyrics to Bluey? Because I could belt the entire Looney Tunes jingle blindfolded while adjusting the antenna.)
Remotes, Then vs. Now
We used to fight over one chunky remote with two barely-working buttons. These days my house looks like NASA mission control: three remotes, two tablets, and a smart speaker all competing to play something different.
What I Miss (and Don’t Miss)
I do miss the ritual. The thrill of finding a hidden gem in the “New Releases” section. The sacred Saturday morning cartoon lineup. The patience that came with waiting your turn.
But I don’t miss the late fees, chewed-up tapes, or waiting three weeks for Home Alone to come back in stock.
The Retro Dad Verdict
Movie night has changed. Part of me wants to teach my kids the beauty of patience, the magic of anticipation. But then reality kicks in — I’ve got deadlines, three kids under six, and dodgy Wi-Fi.
Honestly? Maybe instant Bluey on demand isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Retro Dad: Rewinding childhood, one tantrum at a time.
Rob Allen is a designer-dad, print tragic, and the voice behind Retro Dad and The Hernia Diaries. With 25 years in the design and print world — and three kids under six running the home office like tiny art directors — Rob tells stories where Pantone swatches meet Peppa Pig, and where print deadlines collide with parenting chaos. When he’s not juggling labels, websites, and school pick-ups, he’s probably rewinding his own childhood memories for blog material.
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