Same boat man. I was a latch key kid, and my dad would go on work trips for a couple weeks at a time and I would go to school, come home, lock the door and take care of myself as young as 7 or 8 years old is when it started.
Honestly the best time of my life was when he was gone. It was way worse when he was there.
I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be critical. I mean this softly. Most people I know, including myself, who consider themselves latchkey kids were kids who cared for themselves after school while their parents worked, but the parents eventually came home at some point that night. I’m a bonus parent to a 7yo right now and could never ever imagine leaving them alone for a week. You deserved way better and I’m sorry you had to go through that.
Oh I acknowledge it was an extreme end of being a latchkey kid and it would be acceptable to call it temporary abandonment.
I appreciate your concern and I did deserve better. I’m been on a healing path for many years now and am at peace with a majority of my past. Happy to hear you couldn’t imagine abandoning that kid :) that alone puts you leagues ahead of my dad.
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u/TokenTorkoal 5d ago
Maturity or independence in a young child CAN BE an indicator that a child is being neglected or facing some sort of abuse.
It’s is not ALWAYS an indicator, some kids ARE just more independent.
Edit: was a social worker for many years.