by Melissa Cavanaugh

Created on: January 17, 2009

Just hearing the term "latchkey kid" tugs a little at my heart. The thought of a small boy or girl letting themselves into a cold, dark home after school to care for their own needs makes me truly feel a stark, lonely emptiness that is probably shared by hundreds of thousands of children every day. School days are long and not always pleasant. A child needs to know that at the end of that hard day, someone is waiting for them, someone they can talk to and know will care about their thoughts. Preferably, this would be a parent. If a parent can't be there, everything in the world should be done to ensure that SOMEONE is there to greet the child at the end of the day.

Parents don't always choose to work. Single parents especially have no choice but to earn a living to provide for their family. Who could blame them for choosing work over welfare, and making a life for their child? That is fully understandable, but I'm willing to bet that many of the latchkey kids out there don't have to be so alone. Perhaps a parent doesn't have to work, but chooses to for social or emotional reasons. This is the United States, land of the free, do what you must - but please, remember that you have a child at home who needs you more than they need fifty Hollister shirts, or that constant stream of new Nikes.

Being left alone after school can breed boredom in children, especially teens. Kids can and do get into trouble when bored, whether with actions or with drugs and alcohol. Growing up, my mom was a stay-at-home parents. She did spend a short period of time "trying out" working in a bank. She was gone every day after school, which was a huge change from the normal greeting my brother Rob and I had grown used to. Coming home to an empty house had a very sad, forlorn feeling to it. I didn't like knowing that no one was there to care if something bad happened to me. Having my mom there had been a security that I now believe I really needed. My little brother often was bored after school without Mom around. I recall one time in particular - no one was paying attention to him and his friend - so he decided that it might be fun to bring matches into his bedroom. I'm not sure of the scenario - I spent those days laying on my back on the living room couch stuffing my face with Chips Ahoy every day (and subsequently became a chubby preteen). Rob and his friend began to light matches in his bedroom.....apparently, one of the boys dropped a match on the carpet, and a small fire started.

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