A Monumental Day

Today is a big day for this family.  Today, we moved Katherine into her first apartment.  For those who know her, this was not a day of celebration but of anxiety and fear.  But she did it.

We took her temporary bed over this morning and got it set up for her.  All of her bedroom furniture is buried in one of our storage units and won't be accessible until we move into our new house, so she is borrowing a spare bed from Grandma and Grandpa.  With the bed set up - it takes up most of the space, we moved the rest of her things from our apartment to hers.

This apartment is a blessing.  It is in a converted motel that now has efficiency apartments.  It is very tiny, but there is laundry on the premises, a grill and patio for community use, and it is located across the street from where Katherine works.  This is particularly important since she does not drive (if you've ever known someone with ASD and ADHD you'll understand why).  She will continue to have grandparents nearby which is also a blessing.  And, she already knows one of her neighbors.

Once we had moved all of her stuff into the apartment, we drove to Bozeman to pick up some tech so she could set up her internet and wifi.  On the way back, we stopped at the grocery to pick up some first apartment supplies like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and some very basic kitchen tools.

She didn't want any help organizing or unpacking so we said our good byes.  The hugs were much longer than usual.  Just like two years ago when Patrick graduated from college and moved to Arizona, this farewell was bittersweet.

We are pleased that she is getting "launched" while we are still nearby to help easily.  We are glad that she is taking this important step of moving out to her own place where she can continue to expand her horizons and broaden her experiences.  I am sad because it marks an end to a 25 year journey of mothering.  Obviously, we don't stop being parents just because our kids move away, but that relationship definitely changes.  I am also sad because I know that Katherine feels "pushed out".  This day was hard for her.  Left to her own timing, however, she would never "get around to" finding an apartment, packing her stuff, and moving out.  Pushing, unfortunately, was the only way this was going to happen.  But it's all good.  Good timing.  Good first apartment.  Good opportunity.  A week from now, new rhythms will have formed in her life and it will start to feel normal.

And, on the up-side for this mom, I still shop every week at "her" grocery store so I will get to see her regularly.

Her tiny kitchen with 2-burner stove and miniature refrigerator (no oven and, as she was quick to point out, no dishwasher).

Katherine is busy trying to get her wifi up and running.

Back at our apartment, the space that was Katherine's "room" is now empty.