I recently moved completely out of my parent's house. The only things that are left are items I no longer wanted or old high school yearbooks. The bed sheets are no longer mine, there are no clothes in the closet, or old childhood toys. While I have "moved away" throughout my four years of college, I have never moved OUT.
When I was packing up my room at my parent's house, I was struggling. I would become frustrated quickly with all of the items in my room, the pictures on the wall, the random knick-knacks I would find that hid under my bed. I was not angry that I was was having to pack, more so, just nervous about finally moving away. I have come to know this room over the years, it was my childhood home. With my parents also moving to a new "retirement home" as they call it, I soon will not see the house that I have so many memories in. I would be lying if I did not think it felt strange, but I know that is just how life goes.
I think there is a difference between moving out of your parent's house for college and moving out of your parent's house. One is where you know you still have precious items there you did not want to drag down to your college dorm, the other...well the other is final. The other is when you change from "I'm going home for the weekend" to "I'm visiting my parents this weekend."
It is a strange feeling knowing that you will not have long stays with your parents anymore. Bills and jobs have taken over where you spend most of your time. Every other weekend trips back to your parents have turned into visiting on holidays or maybe even birthdays, job permitting.
One thing does not change though in the transition into true adulthood, your family bond. They are still your family, nothing in that changes. They are still there to help you through your confusion on how to balance a budget, best was to grocery shop, how to change your oil, or even fix a toilet lever.
They still want to see you succeed and do the best in your life, and maybe visit once in a while because Facetime and phone calls are not enough between holidays.
Moving out does not mean you can not go back and just visit, moving out means you are starting to find your own family or life in general, but your roots will always be there. The ones who raised you are there still as your biggest supporters in life, even if you sometimes do not make the best choices. That is what family is. Sticking together through thick and thin, the good and the bad.
