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My siblings and I were free-range kids in rural central Utah for the the entire decade of the 1950’s. Took the .22 shooting by myself into the mountains at age 12 or so. (Father taught me to shoot around age 10). Barefoot all summer, freckles on my freckles from the perfect climate. I will never forget those days.

LOL. Nope, you did fine, of course. I subscribe to much the same theory.

WBill Jr. had one of his friends over recently. He asked, "Hey Dad, we're going to ride bikes over to the park. OK?" That's the rule - he does need to ask, I need a general idea of his whereabouts.

I said, "Sure. Lunch is at 12. Miss it and you're on your own to eat."

No more was said, the park is a 10 minute ride from our house, not even on any main roads. However, his friend was incredulous. "We can just GO? Without him? Or an adult? And you don't have a cellphone? What if something happens? What if..." And they got out of earshot at that point.

Incredible, to me, that the kid couldn't believe that I'd leave them "alone". Of course, the local park is populated by all of our neighbors on the weekend, and they were likely under closer supervision than if they'd been in our front yard. Like it was when I was a kid... I couldn't get away with anything.

I didn't bother to tell them (truthfully!) that summers I worked on a farm when I was their age, was responsible for getting myself to and from the job (that's what bikes are for) taking care of all the household chores and feeding myself. And, I rarely if ever saw my parents during the week because they were working too. I lived.

Kids today have no responsibilities. And they're worse off for it.