Im 12 and I want to leave home, but where would I go?

[Guest]

My mother has always yelled at me to the point of me shaking and crying ever since my dad left us when I was 3. I absolutely despise my mom because her and her fiance keep me trapped in the family with them and tell me that they need me and that I cant live with me dad, but Im planning on telling her tomorrow, but im expecting her to decline it and yell at me or even grab my wrist like shes done before. She works for dcf so I cant report her and I feel like my only choice is to leave and not even live with my dad. I had a breakdown at a club that she forced me to be in and she picked me up and yelled at me in the car because of it and here I am now, on this forum, getting ready to leave.

[ccsmod9]

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 is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.

While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. 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).

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

Be safe,
NRS