I'm living in a 150-square-foot converted garage at my parents' house. They're helping me through a rough transition.

The author is living in a converted garage at her parents' house.

Courtesy of Camilla Richardson I'm living in my parents' converted single-car garage, a roughly 150-square-foot casita.

While I'm separating from my husband, they've offered me more support than I ever expected.

Living close to them is helping me through this transition.

In mid-August, I moved out of the home I shared with my husband.

My new temporary home is my parents' converted single-car garage , a roughly 150-square-foot casita.

I have asked for a divorce, although we haven't filed anything yet, so I'm still getting used to saying that word.

My marriage had reached a point where I knew I needed to leave.

Friends offered me places to stay, but my parents are both in their early 70s , and I wanted to spend time with them.

However, the idea of living together still scared me.

Our relationship was especially rocky around the time I left home as a teenager, when I vowed I would never live with them again.

We've all changed and grown in the 20 years since.

I've matured and gained perspective with age, and they've softened and become more introspective.

The casita also offers more privacy than living in my old bedroom would.