Done with the situation

[Unregistered]

I am 16 but I am going to be 17 years old in October and I am wondering what I can do to be able to leave my house at 17. My mom is always screaming and yelling at my siblings and I. My siblings are little and they're really the only reason I'm still here. My mom is always putting me down and making me feel like I'm just a problem in her life. I am going to be able to graduate early this year and I have enough to get myself started off on my own. My mom is always screaming about everything and honestly I can't take it anymore. I can't go to my dad's because he basically abandoned me and refuses to even talk to me. My mom had threatened to make me leave but she has never followed theough with it. It's gotten to the point where I barely even talk to anyone in the house because I don't want to listen to her screaming, yelling, and saying irrational stuff. I feel like I am just someone that causes all of her problems but I don't do anything wrong. I do well in school, I help out, I put up with everything, I just don't know anymore. If I were to just leave my house whether it was to another state or just another city when I turned 17 without permission can my mom call the cops and report me as a runaway? If so, what happens when the cops found me? Would I be forced back home or what? I live in Colorado. Any help is appreciated, thank you.

[ccsmod5]

Re: Done with the situatuon

Hey,
Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you’re going through a rough spot right now and we’re glad you messaged us. We’ll try and help out as much as possible.

Based off of your story, sounds like you’re mom might not be treating you very well. It appears that you might benefit from other housing opportunities and we’re here to explore that with you.

You asked about what the laws are in your area and what will happen if you leave home without permission. As far as we know, the legal age of adulthood in CO is 18. That means that after someone turns 18, they can decide where they want to live without any repercussions from law enforcement. So if you leave before you turn 18, there’s a good chance your mom maw file a runaway report. And once that’s filed, if you were every found or picked up by the police, they’d have to return you home.

Have you considered where you might go if you left home? What do the folks in that home feel about you leaving home without permission? We ask because there’s sometimes a risk that the person you stay with can get into legal trouble.

If you’d like to explore other options that might be available to you, please call us at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We’re anonymous, confidential and available 24/7. We can talk a bit about things that might be helpful and try and find ways that you can get your needs me.

We’re here for you.

NRS