How did you feel when you 'moved out'?

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I felt the same way too! I was the last one getting married, so there were no more kids left! The worst part is that my mom is paralysed and in a wheelchair (MS), and I used to do most of the houes-work.... ! She cried very hard when we said goodbye on the parking lot of the place where our party took place . I still miss my birth-house, and I cannot ever go back, because my parents sold it a few years after my wedding.It had to many stairs in it, not handy for a disabled person...

[gemini9961]

It wasn't hard for me at all. I was still about an hour away from my parents but I was glad to be out. Now I live about 20 minutes away and see them more often. It wasn't a big deal for me really, I tend to be a pretty independant person and I was ready to be out.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

I didn't think it was scary... but I didn't have to worry about leaving town or anything. We moved about 10 minutes away from my mom's house.

Don't think about it as you are ending a chapter but beginning a new one. Think about how much fun it is going to be when you visit your mom and family on the holidays... and how much more exciting your chats will be when you are telling her about your experiences being married and taking care of yourself. You will miss her though... and probably make late night calls.... but those will be special to her.

She will be so proud of you...


Just try and look at all the positive things ahead and don't look at the negative.....

[Samantha Puppy]

It's weird. Not good, not bad, just different. And almost 2 years later, I still sometimes slip and refer to my parents' house as "home" (especially when I'm mad at Josh). I agree, don't look at is as closing a chapter but rather, just entering a new one.

[Cataholic]

I think for alot of us, it is different than it is for you. Many of us on here probably went more transitionally. I mean, I went to college first, and left for stretches of time- semesters. Then, in the summer, I returned home. So, it wasn't like, "I live here one day, I don't the next". So, by the time I left 'for good', I was 23, and it was 2600 miles away. It was shocking, for a bit, but, then, it was nice. But, again, for alot of us, we had been 'out and about' for sometime.

Then, I moved back home! At 29, for law school. And, when I moved back out, into my first home, it was nice. Now? I live ten minutes from my mom, and see her most everyday, talk alot to her, etc.

I see it as a step in the maturation process, I suppose.

[JenBKR]

It was bittersweet for me. I remember laying in bed the night before me wedding, thinking about how it was the last night there, and feeling so sad about that. But I was also so excited to start my new life with my husband. It was easier for me too because I only moved 15 minutes away. I loved living at my parents house, and we;ve always been very close. I even commuted to college because I just wasn't ready to leave.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Feeling sad when you think about your mom missing you is only natural, and trust me, you will miss those talks to. But even if you move far away, there is still the internet, and a little more old fashioned - the telephone, and from prehistoric times - writing letters, notes and cards. I've been away from home for over 20 years now and I still miss my mom, but we talk regularly and visit as often as possible. Parents also learn to live without their children. They start persuing lives of their own - until the grandkids come.

But really, it will be hard, it will be a period of transition, you will get home sick, but you wil survive, and so will your parents.

The hardest part for me is not being there for my parents when they need me. For example, when they had their heart attacks and their accident. It was SO hard for me to be here in Chicago - 3 hours away. All I could think about was what they were going through and event though there really wasn't much I could have done had I been there, at least I would have felt better just being there. I worry as they get older about who will be there to take them to the doctor when they can't drive anymore and stuff like that. But hopefully your parents are still young enough that you don't have to worry about any of this for a long time yet.

It's natural to be scared and think about all this, and it will be hard the day you actually leave, but you have to stay focused on your new life and what you're gaining in life, not losing, because you're really not losing your family, you're just moving out of their house.

Trust me, Pops, you'll do just fine.