This article was originally published on Kueez
As we grow up, we go through stages of being embarrassed by our parents because of how they act or something they wear. You might be surprised to find out that they were actually cool back in their day. All the vintage trends we have today were started by our parents who grew up during the '60s and '70s. People have been sharing old pictures of their parents, and they are shocked to see how cool they were. Continue reading to see all the vintage images, and it might inspire you to dig up your parent's old photos too.
1. Shredding The Streets, 1974
During the '70s, people were care-free, and you could tell by the way people acted in daily life. This person found a picture of their mom, skateboarding barefoot, in California.
The wind is blowing in her hair, and she looks like the perfect image of a teen in the '70s. She almost looks like a young Madonna.
2. 48 Beers On A Unicycle, That Is A New Level Of Boss
Riding a unicycle seems complicated on its own, let alone riding it while carrying two cases of beer. How did he manage to stop without dropping all of that beer?
Unless there is a follow-up photo that shows all the beer spilled because he crashed, then this man is a living legend.
3. Only Girl In The Entire Welding Class...Power Moves
This person found a picture of their mom circa 1984 when she was the only girl in her welding class. During the '80s, women were still only beginning to do things against the grain regarding gender norms.
This person's mom was bad to the bone, and she knew it. Just look at that power stance and how she knows how cool she really is.
4. Straight Out Of Top Gun
This person's mom flew helicopters in the army in the 1980s, and she looks like a boss lady doing it. She must have felt awesome when she was in the pilot's seat.
We bet she has so many incredible stories that she shares with her children while they listen in amazement.
5. Barbecue On Top Of A Submarine
We are not exactly sure why they are on top of a submarine, but it seemed to be an excellent place to have a barbecue that day. This is straight out of the 1980s.
This is called a steel beach when the submarine would anchor so the crew could swim and have picnics.
6. Sculpting A Bust Of His Wife,1980
This looks like a scene out of a 1980s rom-com. Someone found this awesome picture of their dad sculpting a bust of his mom, and it seems like a very intimate moment between this couple.
People used to find such interesting things to do on dates, and now it is much different. People go to bars instead of creating busts of each other.
7. Flipping Off The KKK, 1985
The KKK is a white supremacist group with the mission to get rid of the rights of African-Americans. This person had enough of their business and hate, so he flipped him off.
They don't believe that every race should have equal rights, so this man expressed how he was feeling towards them.
8. Doing A Handstand On Two Skateboards
Does anyone else get a nervous feeling when they look at this photo? She looks like she is about to fall right on her head. These parents were daredevils back in their day.
We can't imagine that this woman lets her children try to do handstands while riding stacked skateboards.
9. When You Are Too Cool For School, But You Work At A School
Someone shared this picture of their dad as he skateboarded to work at Hyde School in 1982. Based on this picture, this was probably the cool teacher that everyone adored.
Imagine how this person felt when they found this and realized they would never be as cool as their dad was when he came to school barefoot on a skateboard.
10. She Definitely Had A "Flower Power" Bumper Sticker
This person's mom is seen posing on her Camero in 1975 when she was 16-years-old. It was her first car, and she had to document how awesome she looked sitting on the hood.
It looks like she could have been a model during her teen years. All the boys at school were probably chasing her around.
11. His First Job At NASA
This man was working for NASA, and he didn't have a computer in his office. It is so interesting how times have significantly changed. It is hard to picture a time when someone at NASA wouldn't need a computer to do work.
Also, notice how NASA was too cool to have a "calendar," instead, they had "visual date organizers." Don't you wonder what this man does now?
12. Driving Tanks In Vietnam
The person who shared this photo said that his dad (the man in the front left) didn't know that this picture existed until his son came across it on the internet. This was taken in Vietnam in 1971 and his dad was driving the tank.
We can't imagine what his father thought when he found this photo since Vietnam was such a difficult war, and some of these men might not have made it home.
13. More Macho Than An Old Spice Ad
We have so many questions about this photo, but one sure thing is how cool this man looks on the horse. His son probably has a new level of respect for his dad after finding this photo.
When you can pop a wheelie on your horse, you know you have reached a level of coolness that most people will never achieve.
14. Boss Lady Tank Instructor
This woman must have felt so empowered to be behind the wheel of a tank. Her daughter found this photo from when she was a tank instructor in 1984.
Most women did not take on these types of positions during this time, so it is refreshing to see a powerful woman back in the early '80s.
15. Shredding The Waves
This person's dad was featured on the cover of a surfing magazine, and they took this photo while riding the waves in Peru. This is something so cool to look back on with his children.
Do you this man taught his children how to surf so they could be as cool as him? It would only make sense that way.
16. All-Around Heartthrob
This looks like it is from a vintage Abercrombie & Fitch photo shoot, like the models that used to be on their shopping bags. This picture was taken in the 1960s, and we now understand why everyone is obsessed with that decade.
Whoever he married was one lucky lady, and we can only imagine what his children look like if they have his genetics.
17. Traveling In Russia, Possibly On A Secret Spy Mission
This person shared a photo of their mom while she was traveling in Russia. They said she had so many stories from her travels in her early twenties, that her children wouldn't be surprised if she were a spy.
We can see her being a spy based on this image. She has a long black trench coat and look of danger to her face.
18. Bought His First Car When He Was 11
Most people don't get their first cars till they are at least 16 because that is the age when people start driving in most states. It must have been different back in 1948 because this eleven-year-old bought his own car and would drive it around.
It was a 1939 Ford, and he saved his money from farming to purchase it. When most people are eleven, they don't have enough money to buy a bike, let alone a car.
19. Showing Off His Dangerous Skills
This makes us nervous to look at considering how close he is to scraping his face on the pavement without a helmet, but those were different times in 1977.
The person who shared this photo of their dad must use this to get out of trouble when they do anything stupid or dangerous.
20. Working As A Military Contractor Diver In Saudi Arabia
It is so exciting to see how much technology has changed throughout the years, including the way diving suits work. They use to have these giant helmets that weighed so much, making it harder to work.
Finding pictures is a great way to look back and learn more about your parent's lives and history. It also helps to know what you might look like at their age.
21. This Dad Was A Beast On The Slopes
This man is a father to four sons, and we bet they look up to him incredibly, especially after seeing a photo like this. We just have one question. How is he not freezing?
This guy is a legend, and it would be nice to know if he could still do this trick today because that would be incredible.
22. 1+1= Tube
There is always that one teacher who everyone loves at school because they know how to make learning entertaining. We don't know what the students were supposed to be learning, but this is someone's dad teaching math in Southern California during the late '70s.
He looks a bit like one of Jim Carrey's characters with that bold facial expression. His students seem to be perfectly entertained.
23. Taking Selfies Before It Was Cool, 1989
Selfies started trending in the early 2000s, and this person's mom was ahead of her time with her mirror selfie from 1989.
She looks trendy with her fun patterned pants and fresh aesthetic. We have to wonder if her children still think she is cool.
24. Ready To Ride Off Into The Sunset
These two stuck true to themselves and had a wedding day that was perfect for their personalities. They are the perfect biker couple that wouldn't have their wedding without a motorcycle and cans attached to their bike for when they ride away.
Their children must have been amazed to see how daring their parents were back in the day. You can't deny how cool these two were.
25. Puppies and Vintage Cars
This person found a picture of their mom when she lived in Alaska with her husky puppy Okie. That seems like a really cool life for your early twenties when you aren't tied down to anything.
We bet her children love to hear stories from her days in Alaska and all her adventures as a young adult.
26. He Pinned Chuck Norris...Legendary
Chuck Norris is known for his martial arts moves, and he is known for being undetectable. It must have been an honor for this man to say he was able to pin Chuck Norris.
We are going to assume that Norris was kind enough to let this man have his glory day and let him win the fight.
27. Is That Joe Exotic As A Child?
This person shared a photo of their father and grandmother from 1959 when they had a lion cub as a pet. They raised it for two years and then released it into the wild.
The woman was a veterinarian, so this family had a strong appreciation for wild animals. It must have been hard to say goodbye to that adorable cub.
28. Using Submarines As Diving Boards, 1983
It is unconventional to have a beach day atop a submarine, but that was the exciting part of the '80s. These people are using the starboard fins as diving boards as they jump into the pacific ocean.
We are surprised none of them would be afraid of sharks considering Jaws was released only a few years before this photo was taken.
29. Managing Parenting And Writing A Thesis Like It's Easy
This is what we like to call a super mom! She is working on her thesis while taking care of her newborn baby. Notice her Macintosh Classic II computer.
We love to see all these incredible women who have done such important things throughout their lives.
30. Perfect Example Of '70s Fashion
These two were way ahead of their time because having a bi-racial relationship in the '70s was far from the norm, and they managed to make it work and stand the test of time.
Their fashion, however, was peak '70s style. We can imagine this man would be on rollerskates because that would complete this look.
31. Homicide Detective In The 1980s
Who else thought she looked like Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs? This person shared a photo of their mom as a homicide detective, and you have to wonder if her children ever tried to cover their tracks when they messed up.
In the '80s, stereotypical gender roles were still expected from women, so they had to work extra hard to be respected in these positions.
32. Broken Arm, Cigarette, Chilling At An Allman Brother's Concert
At just 15, this person's mom was smoking at a concert, with not a care in the world. That was the '70s, and it was awesome.
Her kids must be amazed by how cool their mom was and how life was so different.
33. Looking Like They Are Straight Out Of A Magazine
This is a photo of someone's parents outside their store that they owned in Paris in 1972. You can tell by their outfits that they knew how to dress stylish and trendy for the time.
We wonder if they still own the store, or what happened to it. That seems like such a cool life to live.
34. Pilot Selfie In Vietnam
It probably wasn't the safest thing to be doing while flying a plane, but it made for a spectacular picture to show people. This is much more exciting than the selfies people are taking today.
He even looks cooler than Tom Cruise when he played Maverick in Top Gun. His children must be proud to call him their dad.
35. Yes, That Is A Rhino He Is Handling
This person shared a photo of their dad as a zookeeper, and he is handling one of the rhinos. He was one of the only employees that could call the rhinos by name and they would come running like dogs.
He would even scratch them behind the ear like a pet, and they enjoyed it. There is such an incredible level of trust the animals and zookeepers have to have with each other for this kind of relationship.
36. Road Tripping All Around Europe
In 1973, this person's dad shipped his motorcycle to England and rode it all around Europe. That seems like an amazing trip be able to complete.
He must have met some interesting people along the way with so many stories to tell.
37. Bad Ass Mom In The Police Academy
Here is another woman who was breaking gender barriers in the '80s. She joined the police force and must have had a difficult time gaining the respect of her male coworkers back then.
We bet her children wouldn't talk back to her because they knew she was a boss bitch!
38. Working As A Radio Show Host During WWII
In World War II, this woman worked as a Red Cross Volunteer and had her own radio show in the Pacific Theatre to Counteract Tokyo Rose. That is not something most people can say.
She looks like a classic beauty of the '40s and she was doing something so important with her life in her younger years.
39. Graduation Photos In The '70s Looked Much Different
Today, we typically see people with caps and gowns, but this man changed it up in the '70s for his graduation photo. He got decked out in a top hat and tuxedo to celebrate his accomplishment.
It would be interesting to see people get this dressed up for graduation in modern times.
40. Pregnant Woman Trying To Get Home In Berkeley
In Berkeley, California, there were protests during the 1960s, which led to the city being occupied by armed police officers. This person's mom was walking home in 1969 while she was pregnant, and the officers wouldn't let her pass.
It is horrible that they pointed guns at a pregnant woman without any thought. All people wanted was a free park to enjoy, and it turned into a larger fight.