My sister and I used to walk for sandwiches and candy to the corner deli. We were both under 10. Idk why people think kids shouldn't have ANY independence. As long as its reasonable just let kids wander and explore.
In the seventies my mom sent my five year old ass to the grocery store for milk eggs and bread with the money in an envelope with a note to sell her smokes to me as well. This was a weekly occurrence. Virginia Slims 100s. I would pull my radio flyer wagon through the store and put the stuff in and go to the checkout. 4 blocks each way down a fairly busy street.
My mom did masters degree in the U.S. and we lived in her university’s dormitory. She left me with the first friends I made afterschool in the playground and neighbourhood (I was 6 and barely spoke any English in the first month) until neighbours warned her that she might get into trouble for leaving her kids unattended. The said friends dad was still doing his med degree and also lives in the dormitory complex with his entire family of 4. when my mom asked him about it he said oh he’s not under any financial pressure so it doesn’t hurt to further pursue his studies. Really show how good the welfare and economy was back then in the U.S. (early 2000s, Boston
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u/elchuyano Sep 11 '26
I remember my mom sending us to the corner store to get Tortillas and Cheese when we were 6