And it probably started somewhere around 13 or 14. Before then, my sister and I would be left home alone, but she was five years older than me. Once she got to college, I'd be left home alone for one day every now and then.

I remember my parents leaving for a week once and my grandmother staying with me, so they didn't leave me on my own for that long. But for an all day event (like a VT football game), or one night, I swear I was home alone starting at either 13 or 14.

Of course, I had phone numbers of neighbors to call in an emergency. If you really think about it, that is probably safer than relying on a 16 year old to drive in a crisis situation.