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In retrospect, I was left at home to take care of my younger brother, my elderly grandmother, and an elderly aunt as my parents took a well deserved two weeks vacation back to the U.S. It was a responsibility which I never questioned and took it in stride. I was about your same age at the time.

It didn't hurt. No one went hungry. Dinner was on the table every night. The laundry was done every couple of days. The dishes were done by hand every night (no dishwasher, we had enough kids to do the dishes). The heat, hot water, and cooking gas didn't mysteriously go off. We didn't have wild parties.

Kids who were of school age went to school and didn't squeal to their teachers or call social services complaining that their parents weren't home. In fact, I don't think my sibling would even discuss this vacation arrangement with school officials under any circumstances. School was school, the way a family chose to live was entirely separate and no one's business. At the end of the two weeks, everybody decided that the house really needed a massive cleaning.

This was in the early 70's. My parents didn't think twice about leaving us alone. Today, they would probably be brought up on charges.