We Were Latchkey Kids. We Can Handle This.

We are the generation that wore keys on shoelaces around our necks like badges of honor.

We walked home from school alone. We let ourselves into empty homes. We started our own homework, raided the kitchen for snacks, and entertained ourselves until the front door finally opened at 6:00 PM.

We were the Latchkey Kids. And we didn't just survive it; we mastered it.

We learned early on that if something broke, we had to fix it. If we were bored, we had to invent a game. If we were hungry, we had to figure out the stove—carefully.

I have been thinking about that grit a lot lately. Because in many ways, navigating menopause feels like those afternoons in the 80s. There is no manual. The "adults" (the medical establishment) aren't always around to tell us exactly what to do. We are figuring it out as we go, piecing together solutions, and relying on our instincts.

But here is the good news: We are built for this.

We are the generation of self-sufficiency. We know how to improvise. We know how to handle a crisis without falling apart.

So when the brain fog rolls in or the hot flashes hit, remember who you are. You are the kid who navigated the world without a cell phone, a GPS, or constant supervision. You figured it out then, and you will figure it out now.

The only difference is, this time, you don't have to wait in the empty apartment or house alone. You have the Tribe.

Keep thriving, Tribe.

Tracy 💗

💭 Reflection: What was the first thing you usually did when you unlocked that door and got inside?