I was born in Milwaukeestan, WI and was raised free-range in The Cement Jungle. Roamed freely, alone, age 7 and up. Grandma or Ma would think NOTHING of sending us a number of MILES to the store with a few dollars for eggs or milk; we never got jacked!
We HAD to be home by suppertime, and then we’d go out prowling until the streetlights came on...which EVERY kid knew was the time to go home or get a spanking. Crossed a 4 lane FREEWAY to get to school each day, DURING RUSH HOUR with no crossing guard or traffic signals.
When I was 10, we moved to the suburbs outside of Madistan - and at first we didn’t know what to do with ourselves. All. That. Green, LOL!
Later in life, my boys roamed all over our 300 acres; in the summer, I wouldn’t see them for days on end! They were camping in the woods and would only come home every few days for supplies and water. More ammo. Maybe a bandaid, LOL!
I really feel sorry for kids and parents these days. It’s insane.
“Later in life, my boys roamed all over our 300 acres; in the summer,”
I was reading along your post and thinking, wow what a great mom! Then blammo, I get to the end and realized it is also a great FReeper!