The neighbor who watched you after school for years never made it a big deal. Make it one now.

Childcare that goes on for years and never gets called childcare is one of the quieter kinds of generosity. A neighbour who took you in after school absorbed the noise, the snacks and the risk, and made it look like nothing so your family never had to feel in debt. The casualness was part of the kindness. It also means it probably never got properly thanked.

If that person is still nearby, go and say it plainly now that you are old enough to see what it cost. If they are not, say it to their family instead, which tends to matter more than you would expect.