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Life in the Father Cave—a basement studio apartment with kids
I didn’t plan on moving into a studio basement apartment with my four and six year old. In fact when my ex-wife and I discussed our separation arrangements, it was agreed I’d be given time to find a house, because in my own words, “I didn’t want to try and make a shitty apartment feel like home.”
The problem was that house rentals in the area were over $2000 and buying another house wasn’t an option with finances unsettled.
One evening while reading a book to my kids in our truck camper, I realized if we felt at home in a space the size of a closet then surely I could make any place feel like home as long as we were together. With the Deschutes River gurgling just steps away, I was reminded all over again to go with the flow. Not only would I look for an apartment, but I’d completely downsize.
Love is what makes a home — a home.
So I seized the opportunity at a private basement studio. With a business upstairs we’d have evenings and weekends to ourselves to be as loud as we want. In between feelings of anger, depression, devastation, and denial: I hatched a plan.
I would transform the studio into a Father Cave drawing on my background as an Elementary teacher and using my carpentry skills. There would be mobile loft units within the Father Cave that they could call their own. I’d utilize vertical space and most everything would be movable and multi-use.
There would be a tool area, a craft area, and a painting area. There would be ropes to swing on, padded poles to punch and climb, and mats for romping. We could pull up all the mats, grab the skateboards and have Sunday Skate Nights!
Downsizing my living space after divorce upsized the bond with my kids. Going small and low maintenance was the best decision I made after divorce.
In the Cave I can hear every conversation the kids have, I can play catch and chess while I’m cooking. I can wrestle safely at a moment’s notice. We can swing, bash, and fly in The Cave.
The Cave has brought me closer to my kids and redefined what I need and want from a living space. More importantly, it has shown me what kids need and want from their parents and their environment.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because in the beginning man lived in caves.
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