Dorothy's Kids: A New Chapter Begins

I thought that losing my dad as a child was one of the worst things that could've ever happened to my family. It was painful and complicated, and I spent years reconciling that I would never get the opportunity to share my future with him. However, losing my mom was traumatic. Gut-wrenching. I spent the greater part of the next year paralyzed by what happened, unable to accept it, looking for someone to blame. I spent months tracking down medical records and then dissecting what could've happened, what could've been prevented, what I could've done differently as her primary caretaker at that time.

I don't know at what point, but during the months of agony and tears trying to understand something that I couldn't, I noticed that the world didn't stop moving, but I stopped living. I made an active choice to figure out what I needed to move on, and it was at that point I realized I've hit my expiration date in New York.

I thought that I was going to grow old in New York and this was my forever home, but my mom was gone. My anchor to New York was gone, and without the financial means to purchase a home in our neighborhood of choice, I realized that I was no longer tethered to New York and that I have the unique opportunity to make my life and my family's life whatever I want it to be. I slowly felt the desire to live again, not just exist.

Wanderlust-struck and ready to go... where?

My brother, Noah, is vacating the apartment he shared with my mom for a new space to call his own. He and his girlfriend are moving into a new space, their first home together. I know if my mom were here, she would be so proud that Noah is making it in New York, a neurodivergent kid that she worried may never experience life the way others do--preparing for an upcoming CPA licensing exam, he is CRUSHING it.

My husband and I have made the decision to relocate our family, leaving Brooklyn for a new life in... Mexico City, Mexico. Insane, right? Maybe, I don't know, but we are more excited than anything. And with Noah being settled into his next chapter, saying goodbye to the last remnants of mom's apartment, we feel more free than ever to seek out change. Looking forward to a new culture, new experiences, new connections, something I don't think we'd ever have the opportunity to do under any other circumstances.

As some of you might know, my mom was unable to leave any money, property, or something of financial value that could help Noah and me fund our next chapter. We support ourselves completely.

We never had a funeral for our mom (her wishes), but I know that many people have asked how they can help to honor Dorothy. This is it. Help her kids to move on. We are ready, doing this with or without additional financial means, but if you wanted to wish us well, this is how--and any amount helps.

Any amount raised here, I will split with Noah. We are ready to close this chapter, and we thank you for your support.