I sold my house and moved my kid across the US to live with my parents. I’m not sure the benefits are worth all I gave up.
In a heartfelt reflection, Emma Woodward shares her journey of leaving behind her life in Washington state to move back to Maryland with her family. Despite growing up in Maryland, the transition has not been easy, and she grapples with feelings of loss and nostalgia for the vibrant life she cultivated in Washington. The decision to sell their home was driven by the escalating cost of living in Western Washington, a struggle familiar to many millennials balancing work, parenting, and social responsibilities. Emma and her partner hoped that relocating would alleviate financial pressures and allow their daughter to form deeper connections with her grandparents. However, the reality of leaving a supportive community and the unique charm of their Washington home has left her feeling adrift.
While living with her parents has undeniable advantages—such as shared household responsibilities and the invaluable support of family—Emma finds herself mourning the sense of home she once had in Washington. She vividly recalls the beauty of her surroundings, from the picturesque Puget Sound to the rich coffee culture, and the close-knit community she cherished. A year into her move, she still feels the pangs of loneliness and the challenge of rebuilding her social network from scratch. Emma reflects on the emotional cost of her decision to prioritize financial stability over a fulfilling community life, questioning whether the trade-offs were truly worth it. Ultimately, she acknowledges that the value of financial decisions cannot be measured solely in monetary terms; sometimes, the most significant losses are the connections and experiences left behind.
In her poignant narrative, Emma captures the complexities of modern life choices, particularly for young families navigating the dual pressures of financial stability and the need for community. As she continues to seek belonging in her new environment, she embraces the support her family provides while grappling with the bittersweet reality of her past life in Washington. Emma’s story resonates with anyone who has faced similar crossroads, highlighting the delicate balance between practicality and emotional fulfillment in the pursuit of a meaningful life.
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Though I grew up in Maryland, it doesn’t feel like home anymore and I miss the life I built for myself in Washington.
Emma Woodward
We sold our Washington house and moved across the country to live with my parents in Maryland.
I’m glad my child gets to spend more time with her grandparents and we’re saving money on housing.
However, I miss my life in Washington and am struggling to build community here.
I always knew selling our house in Washington and
moving across the country
to live with my parents in Maryland was not my dream.
However, the practical side of me thought it might at least be a good idea.
For several years, my partner and I had been struggling with the high cost of living in Western Washington. And, like many millennials, I’ve struggled to juggle parenting, work, and a social life.
By moving, I hoped we’d feel less stretched financially and mentally, and that our daughter (who was 2 years old at the time) would have more support from and involvement with her grandparents.
As much as we loved Washington and the friends and family members we had there, we decided to take a risk and pursue a different life across the country.
I spent months hawking our things on Facebook Marketplace and our local
“Buy Nothing” group
. We sold our house, said goodbye to our community, and crammed the rest of our belongings into a truck and a small U-Haul.
One week and many hours of driving later, we pulled up to my childhood home and moved in.
Moving in with my parents was a smart financial decision — but I’ve lost a lot
I lost my community and sense of home when I left Washington.
Emma Woodward
Living with my parents
in Maryland has come with a lot of clear benefits.
My daughter gets to have rich involvement with a lot of our adult relatives, including daily interactions with her grandparents. I get support from nearby family members who can often provide care for her when I need it.
My partner and I no longer have a mortgage to cover or any of the other expenses that come with
owning a home
. We have a community style of living that means shared responsibilities for things like making dinner and taking care of household costs.
Despite the support and financial benefits, there are many things I miss since moving. I’ve thought of Washington as its own “person” in my story to mourn losing.
I fell in love with our slice of the state, a
small walkable city
right on the Puget Sound. I treasured the environment where we lived — full of rich outdoor adventures, moody weather moments, magical sunny days when they came, and the best coffee culture.
We left behind a small but mighty community, and moving back home meant starting over.
A year later, I’m still working to make deep connections, and I have many days when I feel lonely.
The last time I lived in Maryland was more than 10 years ago, so I didn’t have a group of friends here waiting for me. I’ve had to dive into
building a community
from scratch, which can take a lot of time.
I’m still deciding if the trade-offs were worth it
We’ve been living in Maryland for over a year, and I’m still not sure the move has been worth it.
Emma Woodward
Though I grew up in Maryland, it still doesn’t feel like home as much as Washington did.
I know we’re in the right place for us right now, but I can’t help but wonder about the life I left behind. Were the higher costs of living worth it? Should I trade this newfound financial stability for a scrappier, penny-pinching life with a fuller heart?
Perhaps finding community and falling in love with the place I live now just takes more time than I’m willing to give at the moment.
Either way, for now, I’m embracing the financial stability and family support this move has given me, even as I continue to miss our life in Washington.
Maybe the real lesson is that financial decisions can’t be measured in dollars alone — and sometimes the biggest cost is what you give up.
Read the original article on
Business Insider
