As a gen X, 47, part of the latch key generation. You just did things yourself and became resilient yourself. Parents always had a set of phone numbers to call if needed. You had access to a phone book but mostly you just called your friends and got a group together to do something with. Go fishing, Ride bikes, hangout, pickup baseball sandlot style, basketball, swimming, or Nintendo when it was hot out during the summer.

There would be days during the summer I’d be out of the house before my parents and they wouldn’t see me well past sunset. Shit was just easier and the world less scary I guess.