As my family and I are sheltering-in-place amid this COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve noticed that Ashton runs to the window and peers out at the passing cars and all of the other action outdoors. He definitely has shown signs of cabin fever. I know he misses the school experience. I imagine he wishes he was there, playing with his friends and all of the cool toys and stuff they had for him. As the weather starts to get a little bit more decent, I’ll take him out to play for a couple of hours on my days at home. I also think it may be time to look at getting him a Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler Ride-On but that may be a bit too much for him right now. I’ll need to phase him in on that and I know exactly how to do it. That brings me to this week’s moment in the Flashback Friday series: the Cozy Coupe.
How I first came across this moment? The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is one of the most universally recognized children’s toys out there. I was introduced to it back at JCCEO Head Start in 1989. They let us go out on the playground and it was right there. I got in that joint, closed the door, and I rode out…probably until they called for us to come back to take a nap.
What it meant to me then? I’m pretty sure riding in the Cozy Coupe meant the world to me as a 4 and 5-year-old. I don’t think kids in the late 80s are any different from kids in 2020 when it comes to the iconic toy.
What it means to me now? I haven’t ridden in a Cozy Coupe since I was maybe 8 years old. I hadn’t even seen one in many years until I saw Ashton riding in one when I picked him up from school a couple of months back before all of this COVID-19 stuff went down. It won’t mean too much to me aside from the fact that I’ll be able to share with him the story of how I felt when I used to ride in the Cozy Coupe.
