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My parents both always worked full time and we lived around the corner from our elementary school, so after my grandma moved out we were latchkey kids. We moved from that house when I was in 2nd grade and my bro was in 5th, and we were home alone for many years before that, so come to think of it, we were pretty young!

ETA: My childhood as a latchkey kid has formed my priorities as a mom.... ever since I was young I knew I wanted to be the one to pick my kids up from school. When we lived around the corner it wasn't a big deal, but when we moved towns I lived 3.5 miles away from school and the bus stop was 0.5 miles from my house. If I missed the bus I had to either ask others for a ride (and I was PAINFULLY shy back then) or walk all the way home, which involved walking along the busiest street in town (basically a 2 lane highway) and it took me more than an hour.

I know my parents did what they needed to do and I appreciate everything they did for me, but I'm hoping we'll be in a place where I can work mom's hours or we can implement after-school programs so my kids never have to worry about how they're going to get home.

I wasn't a latchkey kid because my mom was a SAHM. My work is pretty flexible, so I think once we have kids, I'd just adjust my work schedule so that I'd be at home when they get home.

My mom was a sahm until we went to school. Then she worked for my dad so she could set her own hours and be home with us.

I had a single mom, so I was a latchkey starting around 10. My grandma lived right down the road so she came up a lot. I don't think I'd let my LO's stay that young, but mostly b/c I grew up the country and we live in the city now. I hope I'll be able take my kids to school and pick them up, but I don't think being a SAHM is in the cards for us.

I was a latchkey homeschooler from 11-15. o.0 In retrospect, I am baffled that this happened, but it made sense at the time. After that, I was a latchkey college student on a full-ride scholarship, so it's not like my academic life suffered.

I'd prefer not to have my kids be latchkeys, but I might change my mind when they are teens.

I wasn't a latchkey. My mom was a SAHM until I was almost out of high school.

I was lucky. My mom worked part time until I was in high school which meant she was always home when we got there. I never thought about it before but am very greatly for it now.

Yep... from 3rd grade on, my younger brother and I were latchkey kids. But, in elementary school we lived in a townhouse community and had a lot of "latchkey" friends around... we sorta "babysat each other" and some moms would be home on different days. I don't think I could do that EVER with our kids... but it was a different time then?... LOL.

I work from home once a week... and am planning on adding more WFH days after maternity leave. My mom has offered to watch our babies, so I'll be able to work... and be around our future kids.

Yes, my parents owned their own business so they usually didn't come home until 6 or 7. I loved it in junior high but hated it in elementary school The upstairs neighbor used to check in on us during the day since we were still young. But I remember feeling sad and jealous when I would see others kids being picked up by their parents. I swore that I wouldn't let my kids become latchkey kids. Somehow I'll figure that out when the time comes.

I was and I would.