Reflections As I Start A New Chapter In My Life
A little less than a year ago I wrote an article called “Whirlwind In the Housing Market” and I must admit the difficulties of trying to buy a home haven’t changed much since the publication of the blog. People are still having to react quickly as new houses hit the market, waive inspections, and offer above listing price. One of the only ways to have a chance is hoping you know someone that is going to put their house up for sale and put in an offer that they’re willing to accept before it’s officially listed. My boyfriend and I were fortunate to fall into that camp and we're currently in the process of purchasing our first home! Now that we have a closing date and more definition of when we plan to move out, I’m realizing it’s a bittersweet feeling.
To give a little context, I moved back home in March 2020 when the pandemic hit so I wouldn’t be alone in my apartment in York. Come July 2020, I was laid off in my prior employer’s second wave of terminations and I fortunately started a much better career that aligns with my values in late August 2020 here at HFG. With that being said, my parents have had me, their youngest child, living back at home with them for over 2 years now and I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty positive they’re happy not being empty nesters. However, with the end in sight, I think my parents are sad to know I’m leaving while trying to be supportive of this big step.
This leads me to reassuring them that they’re still going to see me once a week for breakfast and coffee (our favorite weekend tradition) and I’ll make sure to bring my cat, Nash, with me when I come to visit (they're going to miss him more than me!). It’s sometimes odd when you have to almost “parent” your parent with reassurance and say you’ll still make time to see them when you’re only moving an hour away. But then, almost like a lightbulb goes off in my head for the reason why they’re having these conflicted feelings of seeing me leave my childhood home: it doesn’t matter how old I am, they’re my parent and they will always want to support, love, and spend time with me.
I can’t say how thankful I am for all that they have done and will continue doing for me, but it also took time for me to have this realization. As a teenager, there wasn’t that kind of appreciation to say the least but now in my 20’s, I wouldn’t know what I would do without my parents’ support and guidance as I start this new chapter of my life. I hope this gives a glimmer of hope to any parent struggling with their kid’s attitude and defiance. It will get better (fingers crossed!) and hopefully they’ll express their gratitude like I have to my parents.
By Holly Hinkle, Financial Planning Associate
Tracking # T003765
