So let’s say that you are of age and maturity to feel that it’s time go leave the nest in search of greener pastures. What do you do? I had another post about this HERE, talking to someone who was 15. But what if you are of age and are thinking about moving out?

Moving at any age is stressful. There is always something that you will forget to do or will do that you shouldn’t do. Some of these errors are minor complications that annoy more than anything else. Others are pretty costly mistakes that, if avoided, will make the process of moving at least bearable.

Moving away from home for the first time is huge.

Over the next few posts, we’ll talk about the process of moving out of home. We’ll try to attack the process on every front so that once that time is right; you will be able to complete this stage of development without winding up in the nuthouse or the poorhouse.

Why?

Every teenager thinks at one time or another that they just can’t do “it” anymore. They think that their parents are too strict, or too lenient; they want the FREEDOM to be able to sleep all day and not have to worry about things like chores or rules.

Some teenagers feel that they want to be able to “spread their wings”. They want to PROVE that they are mature enough to survive on their own. They want to be adults.

Some teens have more CONCRETE MOTIVATION if they are planning to go to school away from home, or if the family is moving and the teen wants to stay to finish out school.

I’m not going to make any judgment calls about what is a good reason or a bad reason, but all of these reasons are valid in their own respect. There may even be other reasons out there for teens to contemplate moving out. The important thing is that teens out there are moving out in large numbers, and it’s important to understand why.

Before you make that call, consider your options carefully. Examine the why of your decision. Think about whether or not you are making this decision with a clear head, or if you are working off of emotions. Is moving out the only option? Is it even the best option? As with everything else, it’s a really good idea to get your ideas in writing. Write all of your thoughts down on paper; no matter how dumb or insignificant you might think it is: getting those ideas on paper will help you step outside yourself and see your reasoning objectively.

Have a story about when you were moving out for the first time? Horror stories, good stories, funny mishaps, whatever. Or tell us why you made the decision to move away from home for the first time.