Let's Look: AT THINGS WE MISS

Happy WEDNESDAY, friends!

You guys, it’s the first day of school for three out of four Shull kiddos.

Agh, here we go! I can’t believe they’re already back to school.

Alrighty, I will have more to share on that later this week, but for now, it’s time for this month’s LET’S LOOK!

If you don’t know what LET’S LOOK is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!

Erika is taking today off (half of her kids start school today too!), and she’s going to re-join us in the fall.

Just as a reminder, here’s what we have “looked at” in 2026 (all your suggestions!)…

In January, we looked at THINGS WE OUTSOURCE WITHOUT REGRET.
In February, we looked at WAYS WE’VE TURNED INTO OUR PARENTS.
In March, we looked at FAVORITE FAMILY VACATIONS.
In April, we looked at the HARDEST THINGS WE’VE EVER DONE.
In May, we looked at MAKING COUPLE FRIENDS.
In June, we looked at WHAT I’M MAKING MORE TIME FOR.
In July, we looked at OUR SUMMER SELVES (HOW IT’S DIFFERENT)

And today, we’re looking at THINGS WE MISS.

As you know, I’m not super nostalgic or sentimental, buuuuut there are certainly some things I “miss”. I sat here and just jotted down the first random things that came to mind.

AND THEY ARE RANDOM.

I could have made this list quite long, but I stopped myself (you’re welcome).

I’m going to share a few THINGS I MISS and then please, please, please share yours too!

Here we go…

NOT BEING CONSTANTLY “PLUGGED IN”

Yes, yes, yes, there are so many benefits to having our phones. And computers. And iPads. And Ring Doorbells. And Facebook. And Instagram. And email. And sports apps. And news apps. And wouldn’t it be just so lovely for a bit to not have any of it? To just live life in the moment without ALL THE TECHNOLOGY. I think it’s okay to be both grateful for these things and yet miss a time when we didn’t have them.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This is the first year (in 13 years!) that we won’t have a Shull kiddo in elementary school, and I already miss it. Elementary school is just sweet and wholesome and colorful and happy and creative and innocent and I just have never gotten the same warm fuzzies from a middle or high school. There are blessings of upper level schools (of course!), but there is a certain coziness and sweetness from walking into an elementary school.

REGULAR TV PROGRAMMING

Yes, yes, I love my streaming platforms and enjoy a good “binge”, but there was something magical about the whole world waiting three long months to see what happened after Ross said, “I Ross take you Rachel”. Am I right?! My kids do not get this. They don’t understand watching these shows once a week in real time and then waiting with such anticipation (with everyone else!) over the summer for the new season so you could finally see how the story unfolds. I miss TV like that!

Which leads me to…

ROM COMS

Where did the rom coms go? Back in the day, just about every week a new romantic comedy would be released in theaters. Now, they are so few and far between (and not really that good). I miss the Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers-type movies of the ’80s, 90’s and early 2000s.

TALKING TO ACTUAL HUMANS

I miss calling a company and speaking to an actual human being. A real, live, authentic HUMAN.

DRIVING AROUND WITH MY BIG KIDS

I loved all the time I got to drive around with my kids this summer. As wonderful and convenient as it is for my two older kiddos to drive themselves everywhere, I so miss being in the car with them. Let’s be real, Smith has left the house at 5:00 AM every day this week to get to football practice…and as I wave goodbye in my robe from the driveaway, I’m thrilled not to be making the one hour round trip drive…BUT I do love those car chats. I miss them.

STAYING UP LATE (AND NOT FEELING IT)

Before I started focusing on my sleep, I could get less sleep and not think about it the next day. I guess you could say that I was just used to being tired and/or just not tuned in enough to think about it. Now that I prioritize sleep, I just feel like a zombie if I don’t get my seven hours. I miss “ignorance is bliss” regarding my sleep.

WHEN THINGS WERE CENSORED

I miss “the good old days” when content was censored. My parents knew that what I was watching and/or listening to was appropriate. Now, they say and do things on TV/movies/the radio they would NEVER have been able to say/do thirty years ago. You can be watching the most “wholesome” show and all of a sudden something “unwholesome” is said/happens. Sigh.

PHYSICAL NEWSPAPERS

I know I could still get a physical newspaper if I wanted to…but it’s 2026 and therefore, I don’t. I miss the feel of a fresh, crisp paper in my hands.

OPRAH

I promise you, at least once a week, I think “man, I miss Oprah”. Bahahaha! I do, I do! I watched her show every afternoon for DECADES. I watched it in high school all the way through her retirement when I was a mom. I loved it. I loved the variety. I loved how authentic she was. I loved what an amazing interviewer she was. I loved every single episode and learned SO MUCH. I miss that show.

BOY BANDS

Yeah, they just don’t make ’em like they used to. Where are the NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees of 2026?

WHEN GOING PLACES AT NIGHT WAS FUN

Ten years ago, I could go to something at night and have so much fun and stay out late and the next day, I only had my memories. Now, if I’m not in my home at 8:00 PM, I’m not enjoying anything.

BEFORE I WAS COLD ALL THE TIME

Smith must say to me at least once a day “you’re getting old, you’re always cold”. Yes. Yes, I am, Smith. I am getting old, and I’m always cold. I skipped right over hot flashes (thank you surgical menopause) and went straight into being cold all.the.time.

FLAVORED COFFEE CREAMER

I’ve been drinking my coffee black now for three-ish years, and if I happen to drink one that isn’t, I just don’t enjoy it that much. So what do I miss? I miss how excited I would get for flavored creamers. I still occasionally buy one and have a little from time to time, but I just don’t love them like I did. I miss that genuine enthusiasm from a seasonal coffee creamer hitting the shelves at my store.

UNITS

Remember units from the late ’80s/early ’90s? We all just wore the biggest, baggiest, most elastic and comfortable coordinating clothes. It was glorious.

WHEN FLYING WAS SIMPLER

I do miss a time when flying was simpler. I mean, let’s be real, it was ROUGH there for a bit and is much simpler now than it was a few years ago…buuuuuut wasn’t it nice to fly way back when? It was so easy.

GREAT SITCOMS

We all re-watch The Office and Friends and Gilmore Girls and The King of Queens because they were greatness…and because there is nothing new on TV anymore that’s nearly as funny.

And finally…forever and ever and ever and ever…I will miss…