to ask what age you moved out of your parents' house?

[jackiesil]

I only ask because there is a "buying your first home" thread that I was commenting on (I was musing about how I've managed to land on my feet, but my brother, only a few years younger than me, is facing a much more difficult environment)... and then just now I've read a thread where the mother of a 14 yr old was commenting that she has to wake her DD up and make breakfast etc etc.

ANd my first thought was "cor blimey at 14 I was only a year away from moving into nan's and pretty much living as an adult", and so it surprised me. Not that I know it's normal - my parents split up when I was just past my 15th birthday, and to stay in the same school to do my exams it meant living with my nan for a couple of years before uni (in the end it worked out very well, i got a huge awakening into the real world (i helped out around the house and stuff) and was all the close to my nana/grandad for it).

so, what age did you move out of your parents?

And do you think you should have moved out sooner? later? What did you learn or wish you could go back and tell yourself?

(I wish I could tell myself to be easier on my grandparents from the start - I was quite a troublesome child and it took me a few months to realise that I couldn't shout and swear about curfews to my nan in the same way I'd been used to with mum. I regret being such a pain back then.)

16, I moved into DH's flat. I'd hadn't gone home from the day we met anyway so I thought I may as well move my clothes and stuff over.

21 and eight months pg with dp's baby (we lived 100 miles apart and I had to work until start mat leave!)
Left him and moved back in with parents at 23 as hated living away from family/friends.
He moved down in jan and I moved back in with him at 24 (now on home turf!) :-)

Didn't go to uni so moved out with a friend at 23 for a year, then moved back home when lease was up so I could save to go travelling. Went travelling at 25, came back and lived with parents for 2 years and then finally buggered off for good at 28 when I emigrated.

And despite living 4000 miles away for going on 5 years, getting married, having a baby and owning my own house, I still refer to my parents' house as home.

I loved living with my parents, I still feel like I'm playing grown ups and I'm 32!

17. Was thrown out for being 10 minutes late home. Slept under a beach hut for a few nights then found a grotty bedsit. Moved out of that into a shared house at 18, bought my own place at 19.

Left parental home when 23 to be married. Moved into MIL's. Lasted 6 weeks and made for home but was stopped. Managed nearly 30 years before doing something about it.

18 to go to university, went back for a couple of weeks in the holidays (worked the rest of the time) and then after university we bought a house so I never went back to my parent's house.

I left my mums house to live with my sister when I was 15. My sister left when she was 13.

I've always been jealous of people that stayed with their parents longer, it must be so nice to feel happy and secure somewhere at that age :)

I was ancient! 22. But I'm from Dublin where moving out to go to uni is damned expensive so lots of people stay at home. In fairness to my parents, I made my packed lunch from the age of 6, did my own ironing from 12 (laundry was a family activity from much earlier) and was entirely responsible for keeping my room from about 10 once I was big enough to manage the Hoover. And I had to cook family dinner once a week from 15. My mum took the view she'd have failed if she didn't prepare us for life. And that it was her job to manage the home - delegation is a key management skill apparently!

14 nearly 15 moved in.with my brother till I was 16 then in to a hostel till I was 20 then got my own place

but DP was 23 when he moved out

18, but I'm 24 now and hardly know anyone my age who doesn't live with their parents.

17 - kicked out, homeless/couch surfing for a bit then into a rough council flat

18 which was as soon as I could

I hope my children don't want to leave home at 14+ and I hope they view our home as theirs for many years to come.

And they will always be welcome back no matter what the reasons are and however many times it takes for them to be on their feet properly.

Just because I don't want them leaving at 16 doesn't mean they are mollycoddled and not allowed to grow up!

I left the care system at 17 and went to a live in nanny job in London for a year. I really started looking after myself (ie paying rent and bills etc) when I was 19.

18 into house share, never looked back.

Also OP you might have been "fending for yourself" and leaving home very early but thats very sad. Whilst I don't think that 14 year olds need everything doing for them, they certainly still need mothering and nurturing - more so at that age I think than at any other time in their lives. A 14 year old is a child.

18, got my own flat and worked 4 jobs to pay the rent & bills.

I was 16. I wish I had left sooner. Leaving home was the best thing I ever did.

19 to go to uni but came home in holidays etc. Got a job in uni town aged 21 so stopped coming home regularly. Moved out properly aged 22 into a rented house with DH.

I was 18. Went mental, ate crap, went out and drank too much. Promptly got knocked up and was back at my parents a year later. My children are never leaving home!!

Effectively 18. Officially 19.

16 1 week after leaving school,i was a rebel with a cause

got myself a bedsit and loved it (though was pretty independent so wasnt a massive shock) held down a job and would recommend it

though i look at my kids and cant imagine they would fare to well if leaving at that age nowadays

awkward me too - 17 to do CSV for a year. Meant I could get out of the house without truly having to fend for myself. I never went back, moved on to shared houses from there.

The day of my 16th birthday, as soon as I woke up. I was a vile teenager - my poor parents, but we're great friends now