16 and hate living at home

[Unregistered]

So I'm 16 and I'm going to turn 17 in about a month. Here's some background. I live with my stepmom and dad plus 3 siblings. My mom recently lost her job and stays at home all the time. At home I just feel really unappreciated and my stepmom takes all her stress and anger out on me (nonviolent). She just gives me attitude. I am the only one who ever cleans the whole house and no one ever says thank you or anything.. I feel really stressed out because with my senior year just beginning I have school work and I have to start getting ready for college applications plus housework and my parents are making me get a job. I don't know how I'm going to juggle all of this... I always have to come home early... 8 on school nights if they even let me go anywhere and 9:30 on weekends. I feel like I'm not getting the 100% high school experience. My friends don't ever hit me up to hang out and my parents don't let me stay out too long with my boyfriend of one year. I get treated like a little child and I don't know why. My younger sister gets to sleep over at friends houses and my younger brother gets to do whatever he wants. I excel in school more than they do and I just want to know why I get treated so unfairly??? I do my best in school and at home and I just feel like crap all the time. I dread coming home everyday and I hate it here. I want to move out but since I'm a minor I can't... I would try to talk to my parents but they would see it as disrespectful and take away my phone.. What do I do?? Any thoughts??

[ccsmod6]

RE: 16 and hate living at home

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are dealing with a lot right now at home with family as well as with school. You mentioned having a lot of responsibility at home which sounds like it may be interfering with your school experience and friends. You also mentioned that your mom often takes her anger out on you with attitude and that you feel unappreciated for all that you do. It sounds overwhelming and quite a struggle to find balance.

With the stress of everything going on, sometimes it may be helpful to find ways to release your own stresses in a healthy way such as through a hobby, sport, music, exercise, etc. Verbalizing the way you feel has been shown to help when under a lot of stress as well. It seems that you may benefit from having a space to openly discuss your thoughts and feelings. This can be done through another family member or friend you are close to, a counselor, a teacher, a trusted neighbor or adult, or us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We cannot necessarily tell you what to do, but we can help explore what you think may help as well as brainstorm with you some ways that may improve your situation with your parents. We also have a database of resources that we can look into if ever you needed a referral for a counseling center or agency in your area. We are available by phone 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). If you are unable to call in, you can always try us by chat through our website at www.1800runaway.org.

We wish you well and look forward to your call or chat.

Take care,

NRS

[Stormy Waters]

Run Away expert

So I'm 16 and I'm going to turn 17 in about a month. Here's some background. I live with my stepmom and dad plus 3 siblings. My mom recently lost her job and stays at home all the time. At home I just feel really unappreciated and my stepmom takes all her stress and anger out on me (nonviolent). She just gives me attitude. I am the only one who ever cleans the whole house and no one ever says thank you or anything.. I feel really stressed out because with my senior year just beginning I have school work and I have to start getting ready for college applications plus housework and my parents are making me get a job. I don't know how I'm going to juggle all of this... I always have to come home early... 8 on school nights if they even let me go anywhere and 9:30 on weekends. I feel like I'm not getting the 100% high school experience. My friends don't ever hit me up to hang out and my parents don't let me stay out too long with my boyfriend of one year. I get treated like a little child and I don't know why. My younger sister gets to sleep over at friends houses and my younger brother gets to do whatever he wants. I excel in school more than they do and I just want to know why I get treated so unfairly??? I do my best in school and at home and I just feel like crap all the time. I dread coming home everyday and I hate it here. I want to move out but since I'm a minor I can't... I would try to talk to my parents but they would see it as disrespectful and take away my phone.. What do I do?? Any thoughts??

Hi,
So sorry your having a rough go of it at home. Can you talk to your Dad or is he going with whatever your Stepmom says?
I went through the same thing growing up except I was physically abused and emotionally abused.
You are turning 17 soon and so this is your last year at home. Basically ten more months and you graduate!! Then your freedom comes. Try to sit down and talk to your stepmom. Grown ups are just really kids with grown up problems and lots
Of stress called Bills. Losing her job is I'm sure very stressful for her and your Dad.
As far as the curfew goes... I think they are just trying to keep you safe and out of trlouble.
See if you can talk them into extending the curfew until 11:30 on weekends. That they can trust you
They may not budge at first but don't give an attitude just try again in a couple of weeks. I never tried to make
Peace with my situation and I ran away. It affected my entire life. No college, working two and three jobs at a time
And struggling to make my way in this world. I'm okay now. But if I would of went to college
I would of taken a different path of least resistance.
You have a short time left there at home. Make the best of it as you can. Your college days are coming and that's when
The real fun starts anyway. If you need to talk I'm here.

[ccsmod5]

re: Run Away expert

Hey there,

Thank you for posting on our bulletin board, we are here to listen and to help in the best way that we can. We appreciate you sharing your experience, while we remain non-directive, we do enjoy hearing stories like yours. If you or someone you know ever needs someone to listen to them, our hotline is available 24/7, our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We also have a live chat program that is available from 4:30 PM until 11:30 PM CST. We wish you the best of luck and hope to receive your call or chat soon!

Stay strong,

NRS