How old were you when you left home?
I left at 17, but I continued coming home for breaks. Now, at 22, I do have my own apartment that I pay rent for, so I don't consider my parents house to be my home, but I'm still going there for 6 weeks this summer because I miss them and might not be home for Christmas.
What was probably one of the biggest challenges that you had when living on your own? Juggling school and work? paying bills? room mates?
There was no one to take care of me when I got sick. And rent is a beast.
How has the experience made you feel thus far? What would you change about it?
I feel independent and would never live at home again, but I still miss my mother terribly. We talk several times a day to make up for not living together, but I'd never move back in if I could help it.
What advice would you give to a parent faced with the prospect of a child that has to leave the nest?
Don't count on them coming back, but be prepared in case they do.
Under what circumstances would you let your child return home or you would give them help?
Let's face it, the world is harsh and finances are rarely ever stable. Your child may not be able to find a job that'll pay all the bills at first and may bounce back and forth between their own place and yours before they get settled. You can either float them money or let them mooch off your rent and groceries--the latter is probably cheaper.
Which do you think is harder to cope with: a daughter learning to live on her own or a son facing the same thing?
Depends--was the daughter brought up to be just as strong as a boy or was she pampered to the point where she's used to being taken care of? That'll make all the difference. My parents gave me everything and I rarely ever had to work for what I got, but they made sure I knew there'd come a time where it wouldn't be like that anymore. As a result, I do miss getting everything I want, but I know how to prioritize and make sure rent and bills are covered first. There's not much left over after that, so treats are minimal, but that's okay with me. Plus, my dad made sure I knew how to change my oil or a flat tire, balance a checkbook, fix the garbage disposal and everything else so I wouldn't need a man to do it for me. 