How old were you?

16 when my dad kicked me out (complicated story).  19 when I left my foster family's home to join the Navy.  Will never go back for more than a visit.

I was 17.  Thought I was ready to get out in the world.  Made some stupid decisions; like quit high school during my senior year (good grief, that was dumb).  I left my mom's house and got an apartment about a mile away.  Got my G.E.D., got a job; worked that for about 6 months, then met DH.  We got an apartment together, but over the next couple of years....we had to move in with mom for financial reasons.

Mom was always very open minded.  She allowed me to make my own mistakes.  Love her dearly, but I wish she would have discouraged me from quitting school; and encouraged me to go to college back then.  I was the 4th kid; I attribute it to her being tired.   

I moved out at 17, right after high school graduation.  I didn't have a good relationship with my Mom at that time.  I kicked around the country for a while and ended up back in town and lived with my Dad till I got married.  My Dad tried to talk me out of marrying but I was sure I knew everything. lol That marriage didn't last long.  I don't regret moving out that young but I'm damned lucky to have survived my youth.  My Mom and I were able to have a relationship of sorts but it was never a good relationship until she moved in with DH and I the year she died.  We had both learned how to let the past go by then but it was almost too late.

I went away to college when I was 17 and was only back for one summer before now-DH and I moved in together.  I get along with my parents, but I am an only child and they were a bit too much for me, it was good to get out.

During college, it was easier to live off-campus than on, and much cheaper, and after graduation (DH and I married before I graduated) there was no way we were going back there unless we had no choice.  I guess it would have been nicer to live at home or something to save some money so we could have gotten a house sooner, but it all worked out, one way or another!

I was 23...and more importantly...I've STAYED gone LOL. I took my time...but once I was out, I was out. I hope my kids do the same. LMBO.

eta: oh it was a happy event for me. I was moving in with the man I loved... I was ready to go...all of us were so it was a happy event full of love and hugs. We drove from N Cali to Tx, us two...with all my worldly possessions in a Ryder rental truck! HAHA!

 I was 17.  Moved out and lived on campus at college.  I descided to change majors/schools and moved back to the area and in w/ my BF @ the time (the STBX), in the apartment building owned and lived in by his family.  STBX moved out last year and I stayed there until about 6 months ago.  It was like a limbo between living on my own and living at home b/c his family was SO close. 

 If it hadnt been for JJ I would have quit school also.I was never good in school just did enough to pass. But he said he wouldnt keep seeing me and so I stayed in school and 5 months later graduated with all my friends and classmates. It was a good day even though JJ was the only one that came to it for me.

 I was 18 or 19, i can't remember. I moved into a house on campus with 3 of my good friends. I have always had a great relationship with my mom, no problem there...but just wanted to live on campus. We had a blast. I did move back in with my mom for a brief period after my first semester in between living in my old house and renting a new one.

I commuted to college, so, I couldn't move out at 18 (but I wanted to). I moved out a few months before I turned 21- I moved in with Jeremy. We live a couple houses away from my parents, lol. I left to because I was ready to- I needed my own space- and to live with Jeremy. And also, my Mom was driving me crazy (a strict 11:00pm curfew? no phone calls after 9:00pm? call to check in every few hours? pleeeeeeaaase, lol). I was paying my parents rent, paying for college, paying for my own truck, etc.

Grr you are all so lucky to be moved out already. Im 17 now and i have no idea when ill be able to leave. If i could now i would cause its a lving he** here. But i have no where to go that i could keep Bailey with me. I have friends i could live with, but i couldnt have Bailey there. And there is absolutly no way me and Bailey could be apart. I dont know what i would do without him contantly 2 inches from my side. Me and Bailey stay away from here as much as possible but it is pretty horrible cause my dad is an alcoholic and my mom doesnt have enough money to move somewhere else with me and Bailey. We've looked and no apartments in this area allow dogs. My parents are divorced but we all still kind of live together... its a long story and kinda weird. We were suppose to be moving to a duplex once this house sells but we have to find one that is far enough apart that we wont kill eachother. Im getting my licence in a 2 months and then i will hopfully be getting a job. But even then i'd have to find a apartment that allows dogs. The only ones that ive found that allow animals have a size limit... cats and dogs 30 pounds and under...

awww. I can hear your frustration. It gets better...make sure you don't rush tho. It's very humbling I would think to have to go back and basically ask for help when you fly off early and just can't sustain the flight you know? At least when you leave kind of...not on the best of terms.

I don't know enough to say more but you seem to have a good head on your shoulders and like you have some sort of idea how things work (car job place to live all going together etc :) )

You'll get there!

rwbeagles

I was 23...and more importantly...I've STAYED gone LOL. I took my time...but once I was out, I was out. I hope my kids do the same. LMBO.

Same here.  I was 23, moved out when I got marred and never moved  back.  My father had died a year before but I had a good relationship with my mom and grandmother who lived with us and three younger sisters.

Gina, they do have a way of sneaking back in.  No matter how good a job you do of childproofing the house, they still keep finding ways to get back inside.

Joyce

I'm 20 - and still at home. I'd love to move out - I'm a very independent person - but I can't afford it right now...so I just dog sit as much as I can- puts money in my bank account so I CAN move out one day... and gives me the space I love.

I moved out at 21 three days after receiving my university diploma (university in Venezuela takes 5 years). I started working half time at 18, half time at the U and 4 hours in a bus everyday! I helped my mom to pay some bills in the house. She paid for the university, no way I could have done that. Anyway, it was a great moment in my life and it was very hard on my mom. She told me that a few years ago, I break her heart when I told her I wasn't going to live with her anymore.

But we both agree that it helped us to mature as daughter and mom, and now we understand eachother like never before. It was a change for the best.

 When I was 18 I took a trip to BC with my parents for my aunt's funeral.  While there another aunt asked if I might like to stay and get to know that side of my family for a while, and perhaps the culture as well.  I did.  I stayed for 6 months and then came back here.  I lived with my parents for about a month then moved out with some friends.  I'll maintain that moving in with friends is almost never a good idea though, and eventually I moved home again.  Then I went back out to BC and went to college in Vic for a year, came back here for a friend's funeral and never left again.  I rented my parents basement apartment from them and then moved into a townhouse shortly after I had Kale.  I lived there until my mom had her liver transplant at which point I moved back into their house because they had no idea how long they would be gone from it and it needed taking care of.  When they got back I moved into this trailer which was also theirs.  Then I moved to Tbay, lived there for almost 3 years, then came back here.  The trailer is now mine so i don't have to move back in with my parents again, ever.  So let's see, 18, good, 19, good, 22 kinda, also good, and once more at 26? I think.  Good again.  I have a really good relationship with my parents as far as that part goes.