Easily Excitable

The 1990s made a big impression on me. Now, I was born in 1994, so by the time I could remember the nineties, we were on the tailend of things. 

But the parts I remember? They were epic. 

Now, granted, the title of this is a little misleading: obviously, being a ‘94 baby, much of my childhood took place in the 2000s. But being that Wendy Meadows became a mom in the 1990s with the arrival of Walker in ‘92? I think that qualifies her as a nineties mom. 

When I talk about these memories to my school kids (they were born in 2010-2011), I might as well be talking about going to Mars. 

But here is what it was like being raised by a nineties mom: 

I was raised by a nineties mom, so of course, she drove a van. 

It was a dark green behemoth that A van that always smelled like Krystal fries and was more than a little sticky.

Being that Wendy Meadows was a nineties mom, she had a bag phone in the car. It was the height of technology. What’s more, Momma played the audiobook for Aladdin so we could listen along in the back. 

But, of course, since she was a nineties mom, she also played Norah Jones, Jewel, Shania Twain (in her leopard print jumpsuit- you know the one), and Selah. She also had some Journey and Bad Company CDs (which makes sense, considering her three kids were the definition of Bad Company). 

These were all stowed in her black leather CD book located in the dashboard glove compartment. 

She was a nineties mom (and had three kids), so she didn’t feel so compelled to make every ride some deep time of conversation. Instead, she let us pack backpacks with toys so we could play in the car. Lord help the woman, if we were headed to the beach, we each packed our own backpacks like we’d never see home again. 

And since she was a nineties mom? Of course we got McDonalds kids meals

…for the main purpose of getting the fine collectors items known as Beanie Babies™. 

And of course, we thought this collection would be worth a million bucks one day. 

Those kids’ meals weren’t the only things we were eating. 

I was raised by a nineties mom, so of course, she didn’t worry about organic: that wasn’t on her radar. 

For breakfast, we loved PopTarts, Malt-O-Meal cereal (the boxes were way too pricey), french toast sticks, and pancakes-and-sausage on a stick. 

Lunch was Totino’s Pizzas if we were lucky- when she could get them on sale, she’d fill the freezer. We’d sit on a sheet on the floor in front of the TV, which, around lunchtime, played Winnie the Pooh.

Some dinner favorites were Hamburger Helper, boxed mac and cheese, pork chops, corn on the cob (sitting in little green plastic trays in the likeness of the husk), and L’Seur peas. 

We also had pear salad, and you’ll never never convince me still that mayo and cheese atop a pear is a good idea. 

I was raised by a nineties mom, so, of course, we spent a lot of time outside. 

In the backyard, we had a patio, a swingset (which we loved to jump off wearing capes when it was windy), a sandbox, a dog kennel, and a wooden swing on a rope. 

Momma let the backyard and the woods behind the backyard turn into our haven. 

We were allowed (encouraged) to go out and play with the neighbors: Momma didn’t hover. 

In the summertime, we had a kiddie pool out there, and Momma would sit in it with us sometimes, despite the fact that we’d track grass in it. 

God bless her.

Speaking of pools, we’d often go out to Gran and Pa’s to swim in their proper pool. Momma was forced to watch us perform and do tricks off the diving board. 

She would always carry her beach bag filled with snacks and drinks (such as Mondos or Capri Suns), books, magazines, and her sunscreen. 

Being that she was a nineties mom, she didn’t worry about sun damage. What even was that? Rather, she was concerned with her tan. 

She’d wear Coppertone 4, or if she were feeling extra-protective that day, Coppertone 15. Both were always in a brown bottle.  

On us, though? Both at the pool and on the family trip to the beach, she’d use Banana Boat Cool Colors, which was grape-scented, or Blue Lizard.

Being that she was a nineties mom (and teacher!), my mother also coordinated her outfits with holidays. 

Her mainstay, no matter the outfit, was Brighton Laugh, her favorite perfume.  

Also, she often wore Keds, and for that reason, I’m still partial to a white shoe like she was (and still is). 

When it came to her kids, Lord, she did the best she could: she liked Caroline and me to wear matching outfits, though always in different colors. 

I guess she wanted people to be able to tell us apart? Though it should be stated that, if we were both in dresses, I could be identified as the one in tears. 

One thing she made sure of was that all three of her children would have Old Navy flag shirts: we had all the colors- red, navy, grey, and white. 

And being that she was a nineties mom, she did her fair share of making clothes for us: she would decorate shirts in bubble fabric paint for special occasions. 

I was raised by a nineties mom, so naturally, we had our nineties technology. 

Of course we had Gameboy Colors and a Playstation, and, of course, we did our fair share of fighting over Mario Brothers. 

Though not necessarily technology, but certainly the height of my childhood existence, was a lava lamp she bought me (or maybe didn’t buy but DID allow): I loved watching the red gel float up and down in the glass that certainly had to be a fire hazard, hot as it got. 

We had a closet wherein there were VHS tapes. Some were movies, but there was a plethora of home videos, too. 

The one thing they all had in common? They wouldn’t be rewound because my siblings and I were animals. 

Momma also had great taste in workout technology. 

The most memorable was the Gazelle, which was accompanied by a Tony Little personal training DVD. When she bought it, I doubt she intended it to become her kids’ favorite in-home jungle gym. 

What’s more, since I was raised by a nineties mom, she took her art very seriously. 

Her chosen mode of artwork? Scrapbooking. 

She created masterpieces that made us all look *fun,* rather than the chaotic disasters we were. 

But crafting wasn’t the only way she appreciated art. 

Being that my nineties mom was also a reader, she supported literary greats such as John Grisham, James Patterson, and David Baldacci. She swears their books were better then.

Momma also believed in passing down her love of reading, so she read us books like PJ Funny Bunny, The Berenstein Bears, Franklin Goes to School (and all of its accompaniments!), and Don’t Need Friends. 

As we got older, these stories gave way to The Boxcar Kids and Amelia Bedelia.

It goes without saying that my favorite aisle in the Piggly Wiggly was the magazine aisle. If I were lucky, I’d be able to get out of there with a prized Nickelodeon magazine.

Speaking of magazines, another love Momma shared with me? 

People Magazine. 

Now, sure we loved In Style and Us Weekly, but anyone worth her salt knows that People was far and away the best and most reliable gossip rag. 

Mama was always great about letting me read her magazines after her, and THAT was when I learned just how much reading can open up your world. 

Do you know how many murder investigations I got to be a part of because of my Momma? 

Do you know how many well-formed opinions I had on Brad and Jen divorcing (which did happen in 2005, so not nineties, but still!)? 

This is why I have to look away when people talk about book bans now. 

I’m sorry, but I just can’t take it seriously when I was reading celebrity gossip at seven years old. 

The fact that Momma was a bona fide nineties mom? 

That was certainly a plus, but the difference maker has nothing to do with the decade. My Momma is the best mother to us because she loves us beyond reason. 

A certain benefit of the nineties?

Momma didn’t have a social media full of people telling her she was doing things the wrong way. She might have second-guessed her choices at the time, but what I know is this: I woke up every morning with the knowledge that I was loved beyond compare. 

I see now that Momma accepted all our quirks (there were many), and she made every day an adventure. 

Throughout my childhood, you could never convince me my mother wasn’t the best cook. 

The prettiest. 

The funniest. 

The most creative. 

And today in 2026? I still think the same of Wendy Meadows. 

She’s the best, and to add to that, she’s the most loyal reader I have. 

Love you, Momma! I know you’ll say you don’t remember any of this happening because you were just trying to survive. But I remembered for you. 

Happy Mothers Day to all!