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Well in the 80s, the term was latchkey kid. There was a bit of a stigma to being one in Stepfordish suburbia, as it meant either both parents had to work (and t
by orbitingpluto 12y ago
Well in the 80s, the term was latchkey kid. There was a bit of a stigma to being one in Stepfordish suburbia, as it meant either both parents had to work (and therefor you were poor) or you were the product of a broken home.
- gwern 12y agoNo, latchkey kid isn't quite right. 'latchkey' was for kids who came home to an empty house - no mom waiting for them with snacks or to check they were doing their homework, the stereotype being that the latchkey kid would pig out on junk food and watch TV. eg I had a stay-at-home mom and was allowed to roam with friends, so while I might've been somewhat free-range, I was not a latchkey kid.
- mikerichards 12y agoIt was neither in my case. I don't remember any of the mothers working.
- jawngee 12y agoIt might be a matter of local experience, but in junior high school (late 80's), if your parents weren't divorced or both parents didn't work, you were the odd man out. Like there was something weird going on with you. The divorced kids were definitely the "cool kids" that year by a long stretch.