Dear Reverend,
My roommate just found out she’s pregnant. She’s not in a serious relationship with the father, and she hasn’t even told him yet, but she says she wants to keep the baby. We were acquaintances when I moved into her apartment almost two years ago. We get along great, but I wouldn’t say we’re close friends. I have no desire to live with a baby, but I really don’t want to look for a new place to live. Our rent is reasonable, the location is great, and we even have parking. Should I get out now or stick around and see what happens?
Bambi No (woman, 26)
Dear Bambi No,
Living with a newborn is no easy task, even when the baby is your own. So I don’t blame you for wanting to get out of Dodge before the stork arrives.
Since you moved into her apartment, I’m assuming you aren’t on the lease. If there are no written rules about your tenancy, there shouldn’t be any legal reason to prevent you from moving out whenever you want. It would be wise to research Vermont renter regulations to check the facts.
Even if you could leave tomorrow with no repercussions, it’s common courtesy to give a roommate plenty of notice before moving out. You don’t want to burn any bridges or leave her in the lurch, especially in her condition.
Speaking of, she just found out she’s pregnant. So you probably have at least six months to figure out your next step. That’s plenty of time to have some conversations with your roomie about her plans. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be the one who decides she needs to get a new place.
Long story short: Don’t make a rash decision you might regret. You don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater and lose your sweet parking spot.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in June 10 • 2026.
