Look After Your Younger Siblings
There are often debates these days about when it’s ok to leave your children alone to look after each other, with most saying only teens are really capable of supervising their siblings. Well not in my day.
The care of my two younger brothers, one six years younger than myself, was often left in my hands, both in the house and outside. We were left home alone on a regular basis while my parents ran errands, and I was considered more than capable of walking them to the park or the shops to rent a movie, alone. How times have changed!
Get To School Alone
It was pretty unusual when I was a kid for parents to drive their kids to school. Generally kids would make their own way there, sometimes with adult supervision but usually with their older siblings.
In my solo school career, beginning at the age of five, I caught the bus with my nine-year-old brother to a school across town. Later I rode my bike 20 minutes to get there, tailed by my two little brothers. Now unless school is within spitting distance from your home everyone seems to make the trip in the car, or with a parent very close by.
Be Home At Sunset
When I was a kid after school and the school holidays were a block of immense possibility, with no clear guarantee about what each day (or afternoon) would hold. We would get home from school and rush out of the house immediately, with mum or dad calling out the door to make sure we were “home by sunset”.
It’s certainly not the same now, with parents horrified at the idea that several hours, or even an entire day, could go past without them really being aware of what their children were up to.
What other things did you do as a kid that you wouldn’t let your kids do?
Very tasty, thankyou!