Another latchkey kid here. 8 and 12 seems plenty old enough to be left alone and find ways to amuse themselves in the afternoons.

I'm puzzled by how there's no mention of the kids' social life-- do they not have the ability to see their friends outside of structured activities?

Doing chores together seems like not too bad a use of family time. I guess LW used to think of it as their fun time, and now it's not?