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Turned 18. Was still in high school. Had a job. Couldn't wait to get out of the crazy home I was living in. Got an apartment in a horrible part of the town where I was going to high school. Finished high school while living on my own in basically a ghetto apartment.
In hindsight, it's amazing nothing bad happened to me. Where I got an apartment on my own, was full of drug dealers and prostitutes, etc. They all took on the role of my protectors. I just got lucky or blessed.
I finished high school despite lots of problems mostly caused by a high school administration trying to force me to have a relationship with my abusive family. Honestly, it's amazing I graduated. I guess it was just my Irish/French genes that gave me the attitude that nobody was going to keep me from graduating from high school, no matter what.
Now, in my old age, that sounds so exhausting. But, I admire my moxy. In spite of a family and a system trying to hold me down, I prevailed solely due to my tenacity. Dang, those were tough times. It could have played out in so may different ways. And even though I had a couple adults sort of help me along the way, none of them were willing to stick their necks out very far to help me. It really was all on me. God, now I feel so sorry for that kid - that was me.
As far as why I left home - it was extremely abusive both physically and emotionally. Think Mommy Dearest at level 10.
I wanted to be a grown-up. And I was flat out told that as long as I lived with them, I had to do as they said.....
Same here in 1960. My parents invented control freakery. Their child was their possession, and it infuriated them both that I was growing up into another human being and not a second dog.
I left like the released prisoners did: new suit, small suitcase and $50.00. And my parents ridiculing me that I would be calling up in two weeks begging for them to come and get me.
Having a roll in the hay with my girlfriend became quite awkward. It was obvious that it was time to go.
My buddy's kid lived at home until 28. He was a good looking kid but LAZY. 5 years of going to college netted 30 credits total (4 yrs/120 credits = graduation). He worked about 8 hours a month at a local grocery store (seriously 4 hours 2x a month). His mom busted him jerking off to porn (Mr Lazy didn't lock the bedroom door) and parents realized this kid was going NO WHERE fast. He got a girlfriend who was 29, she was also living at home but working 2 jobs. She refused to have sex with him while his parents were home.........that motivation led to an apartment and that required a full time job!
So with the right motivation, some people will kick their life into gear.......
LOL... I was kicked out a week after HS graduation, just a few days before my 18th birthday.
Knew it was coming as I got luggage for X-mas, and my parents weren't Completely heartless as they'd gotten me into summer session, with housing, at the local community college. All of that paid for with scholarships they helped me apply for, and money went further as my mom works at that same college.
Since then I "moved back" for 10 days as I waited for a house purchase to finish (14 years later), but have stayed longer as a "guest" while doing a 2-month long ski bum vacation with my wife (to be fair, that time I was using their rental cabin, not in their actual home).
I don't understand the mentality of "parents" who don't prepare their kids to make it in the real world. Enabling them is just setting them up for MASSIVE failure and hard times in the future when the free ride runs out. Zero coping skills development.
As with my siblings and most of my friends, I went to a University in a different city at age 18, and returned home for a few holidays and one or two summer vacations, before completely moving out.
Ironically, when I was older & married with children & lived in a different city or state, I spent more time at home, helping my parents and being a caregiver to them, than I did during my college years.
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