I don’t remember cautionary films and my parents definitely didn’t use any scare tactics on us. I was a “gone at dawn and home at sunset” kid, and my mom never tried to scare me of the (infinite) dangers present for a little girl alone in the world.

She just held her breath for eight hours, willing her kids to come home safe while we had our feral adventures.

But when I got older, my parents’ true stories worked great.

“If you ever want to go to college and escape Largo, don’t get pregnant in high school.”

“Don’t drink and drive, because that’s what killed that girl in your chorus class.”

“Don’t do heroin, kiddo, because that’s why Uncle Clint is in heaven now.”