After finishing my second year of college I made the decision that I wasn’t going to live at home, and I was going to live in an apartment with some of my friends. While it is fun, there are a lot of things that I expected to happen but didn’t. When you live at home with your parents you take for granted the little things they do, like laundry, dishes, cooking, making your bed, and all of the above.

Going into the summer I expected it to be like living on campus, where I did my own laundry, and cleaned my own room, but in reality it’s a lot different. The first thing I expected to be easy was moving in, moving into my dorm wasn’t that bad, but let me tell you moving into an apartment is a lot more difficult. Especially without an elevator (I know. Crazy, right?). We spent moving day carrying beds, tables, chairs, clothes, and futons up two sets of stairs, while in the 90 degree Iowa heat. Tip number one to living on your own, be prepared for some heavy lifting.

The next thing that blew my mind was how much time dishes, laundry, and cleaning can take, and how much can actually accumulate over a short period of time. Living on your own you have to make your own meals, and that means, doing your own dishes. One meal can create a lot of dishes if you aren’t careful. While working I change at least three times a day, as you can imagine this creates more laundry, and laundry isn’t free like at home, you need A LOT of quarters.

Living at home you also don’t realize how dirty a living space can get because usually one of my parents cleans at least once or twice a day. We actually have to take the time to wipe off the counters, sweep the floor, vacuum the carpet, clean the bathroom, etc. You also don’t have someone cleaning your sheets or making your bed for you.

You also have to buy groceries on your own. Now this is a real challenge, first off you have to buy things at the right time so they won’t spoil. You have to know what to buy so you aren’t spending extra money that doesn’t need to be spent, and you also have to know how to make it. And the worst part is you have to actually spend your own money on it.

While all of these things do take time and money, it is fun to live with your friends and be able to do things on your own. But it makes you realize all of the things your parents have done for you, and how much time and money they have spent on me and giving me the things that are necessary to a clean home and full stomach. So I guess I just wanted to say thanks mom and dad for all of those things, and for teaching me how to do it on my own.