Past Prompts

In the Fifties, it was much more common for a mother to stay at home with her children than to work outside the home. More recently, the pandemic has given new meaning to the concept of stay-at-home parent. With children doing most of their schooling virtually since March, 2020, many parents have had to step back from their jobs or try to juggle their children’s needs while working from home. Think back … were you raised by a stay-at-home parent? Were you ever one? In honor of Mother’s Day, share your stay-at-home parent stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

It is likely by now that most Retrospect writers have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. As many of us look to summer, we ask ourselves “now what?” In some states, masks are no longer required, restaurants and bars are open, and sporting events and concerts are inviting us in. Think back … how did you feel when you were fully vaccinated? What was the first thing you did? How has your life changed? Will you travel and how will you get there? Perhaps you have a story to share about a different vaccination in your life. Share your vaccination stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Zapped by Zoom? Flummoxed by your phone? While technology has improved our lives and has been a godsend during the pandemic, most of us have been frustrated with it at one time or another. Think back … to that heart-stopping swirling circle of doom, or system crash, or completely inscrutable software. Did you recover on your own or seek help from younger digital natives? Or, if you are lucky enough to take to technology naturally, it’s your turn to brag! Share your Technology Tribulations stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

We all have favorite movies, whether we saw them first as children or as adults. Sometimes when we go back and see them a second or third time, they are not as good as we remembered; other times they are even better. Think back … what movie have you seen that is rewatchable multiple times? What do you think makes it hold up so well? Share your rewatchable movies stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

As children, we were taught to mind our manners — from table manners to social manners, lots of dos and don’ts. Some of us went on to teach our children many of the same rules of decorum. Will they do the same, or have manners become old-fashioned, some even sexist? Think back…which manners do you miss in others, and have any of your own now fallen by the wayside? Share your Manners stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories