I’m leaning into my ’90s roots during these strange times

There was a day last week when my kids were determined to resist my homeschooling efforts, my grocery order was delayed and, to top it off, my smartphone screen cracked. After such #2020 problems, all I wanted by the end of the day was to take a trip down memory lane to what felt like a simpler time: the 1990s.

Now, I’m not saying that watching an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fixes everything during this “unprecedented” time. But, as I’ve discovered, it sure doesn’t hurt either.

With the full series plus Max Original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion now on HBO Max, I’ve been chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’ all cool each evening for the past month—and it’s inspired me to infuse some more ’90s goodness into the rest of my day. It seems I’m not alone, either.

As a mama of three little ones, turning back to all things 1990s is also a matter of practicality: Whether it’s putting on the Looney Tunes for my kids without having to second-guess the storyline or a singing along to PG songs from the Spice Girls during a car ride with my kids, and you can bet I’m really leaning into that during this season of parenting. Also on the list…

Digging out beloved book series from my childhood to begin reading aloud with my kids.

Pulling up episodes of classic Saturday morning cartoons like Dexter’s Laboratory for my preschooler to enjoy over a bowl of cereal.

Adding Dunkaroos to our special treat snack stash—with enough for mama to enjoy, too.

Doing some throwback crafts with my kids, like making lizards out of beads. (If you know, you know!)

At the end of the day, I’m still a thoroughly millennial mama with one foot firmly planted in the present. But while you won’t catch me trading in my smartphone anytime soon, it is fun to rediscover some of the things I loved during the 1990s—especially now that I can introduce my kids to these joys, too.

Lean into your nostalgia and sign up for HBO Max today. New and returning subscribers can save over 20% when they prepay for the first 6 months of HBO Max this holiday season. Offer valid from December 3, 2020 to January 15, 2021. Terms and conditions apply. For complete details, including eligibility restrictions and auto-renewal terms that apply after your discounted subscription period expires, visit hbomax.com.

This article was sponsored by HBO Max. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Motherly and mamas.

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