11 Boomer Character Traits That Were Developed as Latchkey Kids

Retirely ^ | 2/5/25 | Ron Clendenin

[DallasBiff]

Coming home to an empty house, managing homework without reminders, and making your own snacks wasn’t just part of the routine—it was the training ground for life. Boomer latchkey kids didn’t have helicopter parents hovering over every decision, which meant they developed character traits that today’s hyper-scheduled kids might never experience. Independence wasn’t a choice; it was the default setting.

While some might call it “neglect,” those solo afternoons shaped resilient, resourceful adults with a unique blend of grit, adaptability, and unshakable confidence.

[wardaddy]

Indeed most boomers mom was home

If u “grew up” in 70s

Not a boomer

I’m peak year and was 10 in 1967

[wardaddy]

We were however free range kids

I lived where city met woods and farms

It was perfect

[wardaddy]

This time span is inaccurate

Boomer moms were home

Probably 75% at least

And rare divorce

Even more rare ….,,illegitimacy

[wardaddy]

Blaming generations is weak and stupid

Like virtue signaling

Boo effing hoo

Always blaming the external is a determinant of lefties I’ve noted much like hating daddy

I’ve even begun to appreciate that plenty under 30s especially males are waking up

I guess I should blame my grandparents born 1900 or so

Hell they elected those who gave us the excess of Earl Warrren and Hugo Black and great society and civil rights overreach

“It’s their fault”

Stupid

Now u can blame

Herbert Marcuse

Alinsky

Fabians and Frankfurters

Timothy Leary

MK ULTRA (big blame there)

And so on

[MayflowerMadam]

That’s way cool.

[wardaddy]

My wife is a early X and I’m mid boom

She stayed home 20 years to raise kids

Works now and loves it and her cash pays bills and trips to Ulta and Nordstrom’s and TJ Maxx and UAL

it’s all good except spontaneity took a hit lol

[Cold_Red_Steel]

I’ll never forget for the first time visiting the home of my future in-laws and seeing a state-of-the-arts Amana Touchmatic Radarange microwave oven 1967 model

---

I helped a dude at my first base move and he had one of those. I hated his guts afterwards.

[Political Junkie Too]

Not Boomers... the children of Boomers are the latchkey kids.

-PJ

[madison10]

Heard the same about skirt length. I think there is a truth to it.

[ansel12]

*****I learned to love classical music from the soundtracks of 1930’s cartoons shown on 1950’s television.*****

And hopefully Liberace.

It was good that Liberace survived his service as a Ranger in the war, and that his years as a lumberjack and then a pro-boxer didn’t hurt his hands, kids loved his show.

[Cold_Red_Steel]

We gen x’ers are the new boomers.

---

Oh Hell No!

[Myrddin]

I'm a 1956 vintage boomer. Dad was a Naval officer. He was at sea for half of my life between birth and age 13. XO of multiple ships. When serving in the Pentagon as a PMO and XO of 32nd St Naval Station, he had "normal" work hours. Mom was at home except for a few trips to Hawaii to see dad when the ship was in port for a couple weeks. Finishing homework before going out to "play" was a requirement. Dad was away for much of the time that I knocked requirements for Eagle Scout. Mom provided transportation to Balboa Park Scout camp for some merit badges. Others were accomplished by riding my bicycle to the counselors house. In extreme cases, over 30 miles from my house. When things like the furnace failed and the spring on the double wide garage door broke, I fixed them by riding my bike 15 miles to a hardware store for a new gas valve for the furnace and Sears for a replacement spring. My sister helped install the spring. Mom was in Hawaii for both of those events. Dad was at sea.

I didn't allow my sons to be "latchkey" kids in the 80s. My wife stayed home. My income was sufficient. By 1994, my sons were well established and my wife hired on as a dispatcher for the San Diego Sheriff's Office. It did have a consequence to have her work. Getting Sunday shifts meant she was at work and my sons decided that mutiny was an appropriate response to getting dressed for church. The oldest hitched a ride to church with his friends. The two youngest remained home with me.

[Big Red Badger]

Play Army
Heck Yes...
GIJoe stuff and watching ‘Rat Patrol’

[madison10]

We worked it off, biked it off, skated it off, and ran laps in gym. I was NOT an overweight kid in spite of my addiction to chocolate. I was not over weight until marriage and the accompanying stress.

Schools stopped making gym a requirement. That was a mistake.

[madison10]

Not where I came from. Divorce was very rare

[madison10]

Tail end is 1963-64.

[Myrddin]

Nor cellphones, no cable, no computers. We shoveled snow to make a buck, or did most anything else. If you wanted to buy something, you had to go earn it.

My friends had something called an "allowance" for pocket money. My "allowance" was permission to use the push mower and rake on the neighbors lawns to earn my pocket change. Of course, that was after applying to tools to my own yard to keep the grass cut, leaves raked, ice plant cut and deposited in trash cans. I didn't have a bicycle until age 10. It was a used 3-speed acquired for $10 from the classified ads. Much better than the skateboard that preceded it.

[Big Red Badger]

We’d run along the Jetty tossing M80’s at each other——or Bottle Rockets.
Score some beer and head to Fiesta Island!
.
Boomer-—GenXer who cares
You got ‘Gas,A$$ or Gra$$ ?
.
.
No ain’t read this Article
I’m glad i survived-—some didn’t.

[Cold_Red_Steel]

I have less than NO idea what the articles that I’ve read, with these dates were from...some in newspapers and others probably in a magazine/s. So I can’t give you info re those.

---

Let’s consult Britanica!

Generation X, a term used for the generation of Americans born between 1965 and 1980,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Generation-X

[Big Red Badger]

Divorced....1 mom-—4 or 5 Dads
Can’t remember....