This is where you need to re-arrange your thinking, Purple.

I remember this from when I desperately, desperately needed to get out on my own to learn how to survive on my own. I was 20. Instead of getting out and learning to stand on my legs, I jumped from my dad to my ex husband, who basically became like my dad. And, he never let me know how much money we had, what the bills were, if we had a budget, none of that. So I didn't learn to stand on my own legs until I was 27 years old! Already with 2 kids! And living in intense poverty.

I know that if I'd gotten out, with a supportive dad back home, (instead of the "no! don't leave me! you're going to fail!" dad I had,) then I would have done a better job at that time in my life.

So, it's not that he would rather live there. He just needs to take his steps to becoming a grown man. And that's totally normal. And he's only going 3 miles. And yeah, it's a crummy first apartment. But, it's his acheivement to get that crummy apartment. And someday he'll have a nice apartment, or even his own house maybe. And you'll be super proud of him.

I know it will be lonely without him. But, he's not going far, and you'll always be mom. But now you get the next part of being a mom, which is different in that he doesn't need you like when he was a boy, but still extremely important to him.

I'm 33 years old and I wish I had a supportive parent out there, instead of the big black hole parent, sucking everything out of me.

So, anyway. It's going to be okay. And everything will be fine. And it's only 3 miles away.