I have not seen a non-adult cut their grass in years. Using a lawnmower is too dangerous for kids.
I do remember packing a sandwich so that I could ride my bike with my friends from Hampton, VA to Yorktown, VA so that we could run and play on the battle grounds. And we all got home before dark and had no adults with us.
I also remember a Maryland State Trooper pulling my dad over to let him know that we’d left my brother behind in the Stuckey’s restaurant after finishing our meal. No tickets or problems from the police, they just wanted to be helpful.
Helping parents with chores.
Believe it or not, in our town there is a sign that no one under 12 is allowed out of the car at our dump (transfer station) My son, from the time he could carry would jump out to help me with the trash. The dump man never said a thing.
Pump gas. There are signs on the pump about being at least 16 to pump gas. My son was expected to jump out of the car and pump from the time he could manage. And he did.
But then again, we all continue to commit 5 felonies a day.
I had a lawnmowing business at 9.