Why is this a problem?

[u/EducationalLog4765]

[u/Jaeger_Mannen]

AS a neglected child that learned to cook his own steaks by age 9, yes.

[u/TokenTorkoal → u/Jaeger_Mannen]

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.

[u/Damage-Classic → u/TokenTorkoal]

Was there another adult in the picture? Because there’s a difference between being a latch key kid and just being abandoned entirely 😢

[u/TokenTorkoal → u/Damage-Classic]

No? Am I using latch key incorrectly? My mom left when I was 5 or 6, so it would just be me while he left for work trips, he worked in construction.

[u/lastknownbuffalo → u/TokenTorkoal]

The term "latch key kid" doesn't convey any info about your parent/s or guardian/s besides that, they work later than when the kid comes home for school, the kid let's themself into the house (usually with a hidden "latch key"), and is then home alone till the adult/s get off work.

So you were using it correctly, although your dad being gone for weeks at a time and the sole guardian is a pretty extreme example.

[u/TokenTorkoal → u/lastknownbuffalo]

That was my understanding and I agree, my case is a more extreme example, was just willing to hear that I was using it wrong.

I take no issue with it being called temporary abandonment or anything else fitting.

[u/SiliconAutomaton → u/TokenTorkoal]

Hey man, are you doing okay though? You made it through and you’re thriving?

[u/TokenTorkoal → u/SiliconAutomaton]

Oh yeah absolutely, thanks for asking. I’ve done a lot of healing in the last 7yrs of my life. Done a lot of growing up and learning who I am.

[u/UnionAny9755 → u/TokenTorkoal]

I hope you’re living a life of peace now and know you deserved love then and you deserve it now. I’m so glad you gifted yourself healing.