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GREIN ARTICLE Auður Helgadóttir

ÞÝÐING TRANSLATION Julie Summers

Sooner or later, the day comes for each of us to move out on our own. Personally, I thought I would never move away from my parents. I mean, I had such a good deal: I didn’t pay any rent, they splurged on expensive vegan food for me (well, not always), and I enjoyed living a life of luxury. I didn’t know how to do my own laundry (for which I am terribly ashamed), and it wasn’t until my girlfriend started making fun of me that I realized it was a bit childish. To a certain extent, I was a half-helpless 20-year-old girl. I’ve moved out now, and don’t worry, I’m getting the hang of things. I now know how to do laundry, for instance, and fold it according to the Marie Kondo method. Sweeping little problems under the rug and knowing that someone else will deal with them is no longer an option. A dirty dish on the table isn’t going to move an inch unless you get up and put it in the dishwasher. You might think that’s pretty obvious, but I didn’t know it until now (don’t take me too literally). Once you move out, you’re constantly learning what it means to be on your own, away from the people who were always there to catch your fall.

When you move out, it never occurs to you that your room will leave with you. All of a sudden, you realize your bedroom is no longer your bedroom; it’s been overtaken by one of your siblings and filled with all their stuff. It’s like being slapped in the face with a wet rag when you stay overnight at your parents’ place and your only option is to sleep on a cold, lumpy couch. At least you can rejoice in the fact that your room wasn’t transformed into a home gym.

It’s a strange process, moving out. You’re no longer your parents’ responsibility, and you have to start thinking about grown-up things, like buying toilet paper and remembering to refill the dish soap. Gone are the days of spending all your money on fast food. But it’s actually pretty fun to play grown-up, isn’t it? I think so. Plus, I know that no matter how grown up or independent, no one ever stops picking their nose or waiting way too long to deal with their bunched-up wet swimsuit after a trip to the pool (yes, okay, these habits can be broken with time).

Moving out is a big step, whether you’re used to being spoiled or not. There’s a certain independence and freedom that comes with leaving the nest, and as tedious as it is to buy toilet paper and refill the dish soap, you’re also taking care of yourself by doing so. Little by little, you’re learning to take responsibility for yourself. It’s a bigger step for some people than others. Some are just moving one zip code away or to the other side of town, others across the country or even abroad. Moving to another country might be no big deal for one person, while moving one street over might be a big step for someone else. We’re all different, and each of us does these things at their own pace.