Around five years ago, my aunt and uncle decided to move north to be closer to my aunt’s mother. Her mother was 80 and living alone. I was really close to my aunt and uncle, and they made me promise that I would visit them once they were settled in. During that same visit, I started looking for apartments in Edina MN because I decided that I wanted to live there, too. It came as a surprise to me, but seeing them again made me realize just how much I missed them. Not everyone is as lucky as I have been with relatives who step in when your own parents are not very good parents.

Both my mom and my dad are alive, however, they both have a lot of issues. My dad ditched used when I was just a toddler. My mom took care of me until my teens, and then she started to disappear often. She began spending more time with her friends and many different boyfriends. By the time I was eighteen years old, I really didn’t see too much of her. It made me sad, but I did the best I could to keep pushing and doing well in life. That is when my aunt and uncle stepped in and becoming the great source of support that I needed.

When I knew that my trip to Minnesota was coming to an end, it felt quite bittersweet. I mentioned this to them, and they both pointed out that it would be good for them if I moved there permanently. My uncle offered to pay my rent for six months if I agreed to move. I could not say no to that! Before I left, we went apartment hunting to find something that I would like. I found a place that is just down the street from their home. After that, I flew back home, quit my job, packed up my old apartment and moved across the country within that same month.