[ansel12]

A lot of boomers did not go home to a mom and dad.

The difference is that some kids walked outside, and some kids microwaved some junk food and then sat on the couch with a TV remote.

[madison10]

We did not HAVE microwaves as young boomers.

[gnarledmaw]

Even the microwaving thing was only available to maybe the youngest of the boomer unless their family was relatively well off.

The earliest microwaves were rather expensive, it wasnt like a toaster or crockpot. The first little cheap ones didnt do anything except heat a coffee cup. There were no products made for them until the 80s, tv dinners were still aluminum and Stouffers was still still doing the “boil in bag” offerings.

Functionality, price, and product offerings came together in the 80s to make it available to everyone that wanted one.

[stanne]

“… some kids microwaved some junk food and then sat on the couch with a TV remote”

I’m at the tail end of boomer grew up in NY suburbs

I didn’t even know anyone who went home to an empty house. Not only was mom there but everyone had siblings. A lot of them

I didn’t see my first microwave until 1982. And my father had everything new. He was big up in the Motorola exec world

So I call BS

[Thud]

Boomers didn’t have remotes.

[nopardons]

Microwave ovens became available to the general public in 1967 ( yes, I looked it up ), but at that time, I didn't know ANYONE who had one. They became more plentiful decades later, so no,the vast majority of BOOMERS would NOT be using them as you claim.

Were some BOOMERS "latchkey kids"? Yes, but not many. It was a very different time and one that was very "child centered", as had been several previous generations.

[Reddy]

I’m a late boomer/generation jones and no one I knew had a microwave. They were SUPER EXPENSIVE when they first came out... like over $500 then which isn’t like $500 now.

I got my first microwave in 1982 and it was $300. A LOT of money back then. Now you can get a decent one new for $50.