Can my step-dad hit me?

[Guest]

Hi I'm 12 and i hate my step dad so much i want to kill him i told my mom but she does not listen and I'm about to run away he yells at me for nothing he grabs me by the neck and he knows im skinny he choked me and my my brothers made a mess when i was gone with my grandma when i got back he said " next time you leave your room like that I'm going to kill you " and the my dog made a mess in the back yard and i just got up so i made me some cereal then he gone throw it away and said "go clean up the back yard" and punched me in the nose please do something about him

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

He does not even let touch a phone

[ccsmod13]

We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Is it legal for my stepdad to hit me

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like you are going through a really hard time and that your stepdad hits you.
We are not legal experts, but the general thought is that parents/guardians are allowed to hit but they are not allowed to leave marks or bruises on you. But even if that isn't the case for you, we hope that you will reach out to us so that we can talk more about what you are going through.
Being hit is scary and awful and you don't deserve to be treated this way. We are sorry to hear about this. We hope that you will reach out to us again so that we can listen and help. You can reach us 24/7 by phone at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-runaway) or via live chat at www.1800runaway.org We truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS

[Guest]

My step dad has only physically harassed me once but he daily harasses me verbally, my step sisters (whom I get along with) even called child services once, there was a lady (from child services) that came to my house while they were out and asked me questions about what was going on in the house. I trusted her and told her what was going on, she asked me before the interview if she could record, to keep it in her records something, I said it was fine but I would have never thought she was later going to send the recording where i had stupidly opened up to her to my mom and my step dad. I had so much trouble for seeking for help for me and sister. I do NOT trust those organizations or the police. I don't know what to do, im so sick of him and how he brainwashes my mom and everyone around me. he doesn't let me have any electronics. he constantly makes me do things that teenagers shouldn't have to be doing. he once told my mom that she couldn't make me and my little sister food for a whole week. He makes us walk to school (a 45 min. walk) even in the winter. he justs sits his ass around giving us orders and constantly threatening us. he once tried choking my sister but stopped when my grandma was coming. but either way everyone in my family is aware of his megalomaniac attitude yet they don't do anything about it. I've talked to my mom about it but she won't kick him out because she thinks we need him and that she wouldn't be able to depend alone without his help which is bull********. he's had 2 strikes from the police now, i don't even know what that means, does he get to leave if he gets the third strike? it's gotten so bad that me and my 13 YEAR OLD SISTER have made plans of ending the bastard's life, but i don't want to do it. I want to know there's another way, a better way to get him away from us. I've thought about deporting him since he's living in the country illegally but i don't know how to, please help. I want him gone. i NEED him gone as soon as possible.

[ccsmod3]

Hey there. Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to try and find support, and we're glad you took that step. We're sorry to hear that you've had such a tough time with your stepdad, and based on what you've described, your frustrations are understandable. No matter what, you don't deserve to be physically or emotionally abused.

While it sounds like you've had a pretty negative experience with CPS, anytime abuse is occurring, it's a good idea to report it. It makes sense that you don't trust them, as it sounds like they let you down in the past. Those feelings are 100% valid, but those are systems put in place to ensure your safety. In any future interactions with CPS, you can request that your conversations be kept confidential, specifically from your parents. This way, a record of the abuse is being kept, you're on their radar and they're assessing your situation to ensure your safety. Another resource that you might helpful is the Child Help hotline. They have a ton of resources available to address child abuse, and you can call, chat or text with them.

Child Help Hotline
Call: 800-422-4453
Chat: Childhelp.org
Text: 800-422-4453

If you'd like to talk in more detail about what's going on at home, please feel free to reach out to us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY or through our live chat at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7, and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care.

NRS

[Guest]

is it okay for my step dad to hit me? cause he does it a lot.. and when i tell him to stop that he's not my father and even if he was he shouldn't lay a hand on me. he says he's more of a father than my actual father is which is so so false but is it okay for him to lay his hands on me he does it quite a bit and i feel its wrong but i dont know.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to child protective services. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm a female 12, But my stepdad has beaten me and hit me and my mom always tells me if I'm so bold to leave or get out and go to my dads she curses at me and hits me with straps belts, etc but I'm so afraid and don't know what to do and I'm afraid because I'm scared to talk to anyone, not even my own mom I love them to death but I'm tired of my mom allowing this to go down and I have talked to my dad about moving in with him but he still is getting a new apartment so I have to wait but it seems that every day is getting worse. So I could really use some help and they took my phone and laptop and tablet

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us. We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. Perhaps you can borrow someone's phone or computer to reach us if that's possible.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 12 and i hate my step dad so much i want to kill him i told my mom but she does not listen and I'm about to run away he yells at me for nothing he grabs me by the neck and he knows im skinny he choked me and my my brothers made a mess when i was gone with my grandma when i got back he said " next time you leave your room like that I'm going to kill you " and the my dog made a mess in the back yard and i just got up so i made me some cereal then he gone throw it away and said "go clean up the back yard" and punched me in the nose please do something about him

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to child protective services. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

My mom remarried about 6 years ago after being in an abusive relationship with my biological my mom remarried about 6 years ago after being in an abusive relationship with my biological dad.
Everything was fine with my new dad, or stepdad until he started to hit me. It wasn't abusive hitting. But just I do something bad he hits me, or sometimes it was unnecessary. I also have 2 older brothers that got kicked out because of him.
Even just now he beat me in front of my cousin and little sister because I ate his cake that he left in the fridge. I sometimes go to my biological father's house sometimes. I even can't believe he was abusive, cause he's really nice. Unless you get on his nerves. :0 I've been thinking about killing myself because of all the things I've been through, but when I think about it. I regret saying it or thinking it. But after he just beat me in front of my sibling and cousin, I'm thinking of living with my dad now. Cause he has embarrassed me so bad. And I will NEVER forgive him. DO YOU THINK I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE'.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now and we want you to know you are not alone.

You do not deserve to be abused in any way and we are sorry that you are dealing with that. You have every right to make an abuse report and there are a few ways to go about doing that. One option to consider would be to contact Child Help at 1800-422-4453 and they would be able to help with making a report. You can also talk to a school counselor and they would be able to help you with making a report. Lastly, you can call or chat with us and we would be able to help make a report on your behalf.

We know you mentioned wanting to kill yourself, we are glad you are still here and able to share your story with us. You are important and you are worth living, suicide is a permanent decision to a temporary situation. If you are ever feeling suicidal or just need someone to talk to reach out to The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at: 1800-273-8255. There is always someone willing to listen and willing to help.

Only you know what the best decision for you is as you know your life the best. When making a decision think about the pros and cons and see which one outweighs the other. Also think about which decision would be the safest for you.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

if my stepdad kicks me and hits me with knuckles in the head and im 12 and my mom loves him so i can't do nothing about it help

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to child protective services. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

my step dad keeps touching me on the******* is he aloud to do that i am only 12

[ccsmod3]

Hey there. Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to reach out for support, and we're glad you took that step.

It sounds like your stepdad is touching you in a manner that makes you uncomfortable, and that means it's not okay. No one is allowed to touch you in that way, unless you give them consent. Even then, if an adult is doing so, it doesn't matter if you do give them consent. It's still considered inappropriate because they are an adult and you're not. Because this is going on, it might be a good idea to reach out to Child Protective Services and file an abuse report. Their job is to ensure that you're safe in your home, and if you're not, to decide what steps should be taken in order to make sure that you are. If this is something that you're interested in doing, you can file a report on your own, by contacting us here at NRS for support, or by telling a safe person of the abuse (like a teacher, school counselor, therapist, etc.). Each person that I've listed is considered a Mandated Reporter and has a legal obligation to contact CPS when there are any suspicions or indications of abuse. We understand that moving forward in this process can be scary, but want you to know that your safety is critical. These are folks who will prioritize that. If you have any questions about filing a report, what it entails, or would like to learn more about child abuse in general, Childhelp is another great resource to utilize. They're a child abuse hotline and you can reach out to them by texting or calling 1-800-422-4453, or by chatting with them live at www.childhelp.org.

If you'd like to chat in more detail with us about your situation, please feel free to reach out directly by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY or by chatting with us live at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen, and to help.

Take care.

NRS

[Guest]

my step dad is very very strict. first thing thats wrong with him is he embarrases me in public like when he dropped me off to go to my real dads he yelled at me in front of my dad and people were watching me cry. Including a kid. I got so embarrased i tryed not to show my face. second thing wrong with him is that he hits me when he gets mad and he lets his anger out on me. I want to have the guts to tell him that he doesnt have the right to hit me and that its child abuse. Should i tell him that?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

is it ok to hate your step-dad

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there could be a lot of stress or conflict at home involving your step dad and we want you to know that we are here to support you during this challenging time. You asked if it is okay to hate your step-dad, so it seems you are having a hard time with this relationship in your life. Your feelings and experiences are real and valid even if those feelings are negative. It is totally okay for you feel this way about your step-dad.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Even just having an outlet or someone to share your feelings with can give you a sense of relief or an opportunity to decompress. It can get really overwhelming to hold everything inside!

We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

Be safe and stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

I have got abused by my whole family. My stepdad came from india a day ago and now he is making my whole family hit me. I am crying right now and don’t know what i should do.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Once my step dad got mad cause my room was dirty and starting yelling and screaming in my face than punched my arm continuously 5-8 times leaving a giant bruise and I couldn’t move my arm at all it felt broken so I would whimper when I’ll move it and he’ll tell me you want to give you something to cry about my mom has the photo on her phone than he says he has every right to hit/kick me as long as if he doesn’t nt make me bleed

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I filed a statement today for what my stepdad did last night. He was constantly yelling so naturally, I yelled back because he was pissing me off to the point I was going to hit him. He then pushed me down the hallway and I told him that he wasn't my dad and had no right to lay a hand on me. He simply said "Your daddy's gone. This is my house. I'll throw you through the wall if I want." Before this event, my mom had been hitting me on multiple occasions. I'm scared to go home.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time and we want you to know that you are not alone.

It was brave of you for filing a statement against your step dad, you do not deserve to be treated that way. If you are ever in immediate danger please contact 911. You can also contact Child Help for more help regarding abuse. They can be reached at 1800-422-4453.

If you have any more questions or just need someone to talk to please reach out to us by phone or by chat. We are here to support you and listen to you 24/7. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS