I remember when I was maybe 14, 2001 or so, and my mom forgot to pick me up from wrestling practice after school.

We lived about 6 miles outside of town, and wrestling is a winter sport, so it was well dark.

I walked home along the side of the highway (in all black because that’s what I had that day…) after waiting well over an hour and calling several times (no cell phones). My options were to continue to sit in the glass entryway indefinitely or just leave and go home. It took me 3 hours, and when I walked in my parents were shocked that they forgot.. not that I made it home safely or that I felt feelings.. they were shocked at themselves that they forgot about me. (I wasn’t at that point)

I mean hell when I was 5-7 I was walking home from school daily, going around suburb town on my bike, and one time around age 6 I got lost for several hours (only a few streets from home, but so windy and confusing I was just lost..) it ended in trauma and an ER visit, but did not actually cause my parents to restrict my movement, when it absolutely should have. It was normal routine stuff back then.

I’m into parents caring more now, but man if someone had arrested my mother for allowing me freedom I’d.. have felt really bad for causing it.. that’s also intensely traumatic.