"On the night I moved in, I slept alone in bed for the first time in 13 years, alone in a house for the first time in my life. While the first night and the first weekend without my kids was rough (many tears, little sleep) I grew to like my time alone."
"The adjustment to living alone was quick, but only because I was forced to be self-sufficient. I did not move into my space in normal times. I moved into my house in August 2020 - in my first few months living alone, my kid had no school, and we all had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Oregon wildfires, and an ice storm."
"I can parent my kids how I want to. My Broadway posters are hung proudly in the living room, not relegated to the basement like in my old place. I don't feel guilty about a sink full of dishes or having a 'snack dinner' in front of a movie."
Following a 2020 divorce, the author purchased a single-family home and experienced living alone for the first time in her life. Previously, she had lived with parents, roommates, and then a spouse. The transition occurred during challenging circumstances including the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon wildfires, and an ice storm, which accelerated her adaptation to self-sufficiency. Initial emotional difficulty gave way to appreciation for solitude and personal autonomy. Five years later, she experiences peace and freedom to parent independently, decorate according to personal taste, and live without guilt about household management or lifestyle choices.
Read at Apartment Therapy
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