My mom just beat me.

[Guest]

(age 13) My mom yells at me, calls me stupid, and beats me with a belt. I have very bad marks on my hip and I somehow got a bruise in between my legs, I'm scared to stand up to her because she will just call me rude and or dumb. It's the same thing with my "stepdad" (he hasn't even adopted me yet so I'm pretty sure legally he can't yell at me or hit me). Please help me, she also said that if I tell CPS, they will take me away, not her. I have two little brothers that I care for and when they get hit, I yell for them to stop and then they move on to me. I don't know what to do, I was thinking about running away, but I love my little brothers.

[ccsmod6]

Hello There!

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway. Taking this step often takes much courage, which shows how strong of a person you in doing so. You are so strong for having gone through so much already with your parents as well as standing up for your siblings.

It sounds like you are considering your options because you are unsafe a home. We are sorry to hear that. No one should be made to feel this way. Home should be a place of love, support, comfort, and safety. We want you to know that tt is never legally ok for anyone (parent or not) to physically harm a child. Notifying cps does not always mean that you will be taken away You mentioned being worried about being taken away and your siblings being left behind, if they are being abuse, the case worker would need to take that into consideration. Sometimes it could also be a way to get required anger management help for your mother or step father. There is not much anyone, including yourself that could control your mother’s behavior.

Your well-being and safety is a great concern. By all means, if you do fear for your safety in the future, do not hesitate to take the necessary steps to regain your safety. This may mean calling the police or possibly reporting the things you may be experiencing. Do you have any mentioned having friends, family or school counselors that you talk to? Sometimes having them on your side can help create a sense of comfort or support that will keep you safe.

You are not alone. We can discuss your options with you if you’d like, as well as answer other questions you may have. We’re confidential and anonymous. We’re also here just to listen, if that’s what you need. If you want more information about cps reporting, what that means, or what that can look like for you, we are here to help guide you throughout that process and report with you, or can also call Child Help at 1800-422-4453 that would be able to connect you to your states reporting agency if that is something that you are comfortable doing.


Best Wishes,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 13 years old and I have your typical chinese tiger parents, but I spend about 5 hours a day doing homework and studying, and they still are not happy with my grades, all A's with one B+. They expect me to take AP calculus in my FRESHMAN year and another AP class as an elective??? I don't think I can make it past high school; I really need help. I get bullied for having better grades than everyone else and I think I'm not okay. I have photos of red weals, holes, and lots of cuts and scratched from before on my hands, face, back, and neck. She throws anything she can get at me, and breaks my possessions as well. I have two sets of bows and arrows to protect myself, but always end up giving up, curling into a ball, and accepting the abuse. No one at school, even my teachers, believes me. I'm hoping someone eventually will do believe me

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live in a home where you are expected to do so much. It’s apparent that you are intelligent and hardworking and you should take pride in your accomplishments and achievements.

You mentioned that some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. We want you to know that we believe you. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report by conducting a conference call with your local child protective services agency or we can file a report for you. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

i'm failing in school because i'm occupied with my phone a lot. they think i have it so easy but i really wish i was dead. my mom thinks because i'm black i don't have feelings, pain, pressure. she thinks i should just be the greatest kid in the world and not have any problems. my eyes are swoolen from crying every night. my friends feel more like a family than my actual family. all they do is yell. please help me feel more loved, i don't deserve this anymore. i have scars because of her. so what i say to my friends is i cut..

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thanks for reaching out to NRS tonight.

It sounds like you’re feeling really overwhelmed and are in a scary situation. We’re so sorry to hear you’re going through this. Please know that you must be really brave to reach out for help – it’s not an easy thing to do, but doing so shows how strong you are. And we are here to help.

From what you’ve shared, it sounds like your relationship with your mom is pretty strained. Of course you have feelings and feel pain, no matter what your skin color, and it sounds like you are under a lot of pressure as well – from school, which must be hard to concentrate on with everything else going on. We’re glad that you have friends who support you and feel like family, but we’re sorry to hear you’re not finding that same level of support from your mom. Everyone deserves to have a home and family where they feel loved and supported; and it sounds like you haven’t found that in your situation.

Also – it is never okay for a parent to hit their child. Not for any reason, and especially not in such a way that it scars you physically (and probably mentally as well). If your safety is in question, please do not hesitate to seek help, from the local authorities, or perhaps from a place like Child Help (National Child Abuse Hotline). They can help you walk through the reporting process and all it entails including finding a safe place to stay –their phone number is 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org.

You mentioned cutting – and we know that sometimes, when the pressure builds up or feelings are all mixed up, cutting can actually feel like a form of release for some people. But your safety is important to us, so we hope that you will reach out to someone about that – for example, perhaps a trusted school teacher, a pastor, a doctor or health practitioner, or a counselor. If you like, we can get you resources for counseling in the area in our database of resources – just reach out to us and will get you in touch with a local resource.

If you’re feeling like you would be better off not being here, or are feeling suicidal, we encourage you to reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800 -273-8255.They have trained counselors on staff around the clock to listen and to help.

Please know also that we are here for you – even if you just need to talk to someone or vent. We’re here by phone and chatroom 24 hours /7 days a week: 1-800-RUNAWAY or www.1800RUNAWAY.org.

We hope that information has been helpful for you, and that we provided some good options for you. Please know that there are people who care about you. Best of luck to you, and we hope to hear from you soon.

[Guest]

I am 13... My mom accused me for throwing water on kids... I didn't even do it.. I got water to drink but didn't pour it on anyone.. I tried to explian and she said I am about to go off if you don't tell me the truth. I kept saying I didn't but she kept saying I did ... She beat me until I was in a corner and I was blocking.. I started to run into the living room... and she ran and grabbed me by my hair and shoved me outside and said apologize... When I went outside I notified her I was going to tell Child Protective Services .. I started to run away... she had followed me down all the stairs outside... She had saw me and slapped me and said don't play with me.. Then, said something but I was thinking about running away.... I already packed my bags and food... I am going to my friend Siennas and will call my dad (who she thinks doesn't care which he does..) to get me... I am sick of this...

[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

[Guest]

I’m 13 and going through depression and several eating disorders. My mom knows this because my school told her I was thinking of killing myself. Lately she has been hitting me, and threatening me, and yelling at me. I don’t remember a single day in my life where she has not yelled at me. I told her can you please stop yelling at me it makes me feel like a failure. But, she ignored me completely. I’ve been wanting to cut myself again recently because it’s extremely over-whelming. I don’t know how to get her to stop. It’s bad enough my ‘friend’ hits me, and now my mom. More than ever I just want to drink and smoke weed with my other friends to forget all about and make my problems go away.

[ccsmod10]

Thank you for reaching out to us and telling us your story. It sounds like you are going through a very difficult time right now and we hope to be able to help. We want you to know that no one deserves to be abused physically or mentally, and you should not have to go through that. But you don’t have to do it alone. If you haven’t already, you could consider reporting the abuse you’ve been experiencing. If you want more information about abuse reporting or if you want to file a report, you could call Child Help at 1-800-422-4453.

Your safety is very important. We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. You could consider calling your local nonemergency police department to ask about their policies. We also have legal aid resources here if you have specific questions about the laws in your state and what could happen if you decided to runaway. If you don’t feel safe and feel like you need to get away Nationalsafeplace.org provides a safe location for you to meet a staff member who can take you to a designated place where you can discuss all options about how to stay safe. You can text 44357 the word “safe,” and your location to find a safe location in your area. Once you arrive let someone who works there know you need help connecting with a staff member.

You mentioned depression, cutting yourself and eating disorders. If you’re not currently getting mental health resources, it can be really helpful to get treatment. As your mental health suffers, you have -limited ability to handle the other stressors in your life. Smoking and drinking may help but those are only temporary fixes. You can contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to connect you to mental health resources at 1-800-950-6264 or NAMI.org You may also want to talk to your school because they should have a counselor for you. If you think there’s any chance you might hurt yourself, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800.273.8255 or 911 to talk to someone right away.

Again, thank you for contacting us. It sounds like you’ve been going through a really hard time, but you’ve shown a lot of strength by working through these challenges and reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call our 24 hour hotline at 1-800Runaway (786-2929) or use our live chat. We hope this information was helpful and take care.

[Guest]

Why does my mom hate me? She is always beating me she never understands me. She is always hitting me. I don’t think she loves me. I am thinking of running away from home. She has abused me 24/7

[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.
First off we want to say that abuse whether its physical, sexual, emotional or verbal, it is never okay and you do not deserve it and do have the right to report it. We want you to know that you do have the right to make a report with Child Protective Services. Child Help USA is an information and referral line that can connect you with your local CPS abuse hotline. That number is 1-800-422-4453. If you ever felt like making a report or needed help, we are here to assist with that. We understand that making an abuse report can be intimidating so if you like we can call together to provide support.
You are deserving of love and support which it sounds like you are not getting from home. We know that you can feel isolated and unwanted a times but we need you to know that there is so much more to life. There are going to be a lot of other people in your life who are going to know how to treat you with compassion and love. It is understandable that you would want to leave your abusive household. Honestly we are not here to try and talk you out of it. Our job is to make sure that, whatever you decided to do you are keeping yourself safe. So here are somethings to consider if you are planning on running away:
-How will your parents react to you leaving?
-Will they call the police?
-Do you have a safe place to go?
-What about school? Is continuing an education important to you?
-How are you going to survive? Food? Shelter? Transportation? Money?
-Who can you depend on if you were to leave home?
- What is your plan B if your first plan does not work out?
-Who have you reached out to make things better at home?
-If you were forced to return home, what do you think that would look like?
Like we said before, we are just here to make sure that you are safe. If you would like to talk through your plan or make a report we have volunteers available 24/7 to help. 1-800-786-2929

Additionally, if you’re feeling unsafe and need a safe place to go and talk to someone, you may wish to visit The National Safeplace website (www.nationalsafeplace.org). This organization provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. You can look up your city and state to see if there are any safe places near you listed. So that is always an option if you feel like talking to someone in person about what has been going on or if you just need of a safe place to stay.

You also may use your phone to text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 69866. If there are safe places and shelters nearby, a list of those will be sent to your phone and you may have the option to text back and forth with a trained counselor as well.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I need some advice
I'm 14

Why do my mom beat me everytime I do something and when she beat me it's for at least 10 or 15 minutes but it feels longer and it hurts and leave marks on me

[ccsmod11]

Hi there,
Thank you for contacting us at the National Runaway Safeline. It takes great courage to reach out for help and we are glad that you decided to reach out to us.

It sounds like you are in a really hard situation. It is not ok for your parents to hurt you in anyway and this is not your fault. You can call Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 and they can help you file a report if they can help you file an abuse report. It can be helpful to take pictures of any abuse marks which you can use as proof in the court. If your safety is at risk you can call 911.
You can also try to find a safe place at https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/. Talking to other family members and friends can be helpful as well. If it might be an option for you, you can call us at our 24 hour confidential hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) and we can listen to you, explore your options and provide any resources.

You are acting strong by reaching out for help. We wish you the best and hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

My mom threatens to murder me and beat me in front of everyone. She really scares me but I still love her and would do anything for her. She will selectively do this

[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. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.
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 [ 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]

Hey,
I'm so so sorry that this is happening to you. I've been going through the same thing for about 7 years now and things havent gotten better either. I suggest that if your mom beats you again, or if you still have marks or bruises or any evidence, please take photos of them and show them to the police asap. It is never ever ok to torture or abuse anyone especially if she is your mom. It might be scary to reach out, but it's the best thing to do for your safety and your sister's.

[Guest]

i Want to write about my experience but I can’t bring myself to write it every time I do I start sobbing

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. Talking about what’s going can sometimes be the hardest part of dealing with it. It sounds extraordinarily painful and it’s understandable for you to be having a difficult time telling anyone. We just want you to know that we are here to listen to your story at whatever pace is best for you. Our hotline and chat are completely confidential and it is not our job to tell you what to do or how to handle your situation. You can also just give us a test call and hang up whenever you want if you start to feel uncomfortable. Our number is 1-800-786-2929 and you can chat us at 1800runaway.org. We will keep an ear out for you!

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

My mom,is the person i love the most in this world,even though she abused me when I was 7,she. Hits me,like I'm a punchupu,now I'm 12 and she's doing it all over again,a year ago so I wanted to get rid of her,I tried to,but I didn't,cause I said to myself,she hits u,but she's ur mom..so I didn't,now she's doing it again,but I don't know what to do...

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,

We are sorry to hear your mom is hitting you like that. You don't deserve that at all. It sounds like you are in an especially difficult position because you say that your mom is still someone you love, despite her abuse. No one can say exactly for sure what you should do, but we can give you a few things to think about and then you can decide what you think is the right move for you.

One option would be to file an abuse report. You do have that right. If you give us your state, we can give you the number to do that. Or if you call us we can file on your behalf. That's up to you. Or you can reach out to the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Another option would be to try to talk to her when she is not in a bad mood or not likely to hit you. You may be able to explain how you feel about the abuse you are undergoing and tell her very clearly what you think is unacceptable. This might be a difficult conversation, but it's one you could try. Another alternative would be to write her a letter explaining how her hitting you makes you feel and why you think it should stop.

Finally, you can give us a call and we can talk more about what's going on and how you can stay safe. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY and we are open 24/7. We might be able to figure out some other options besides what we mention above. Or you can chat with us by clicking on the chat feature on our website's main page: https://www.1800runaway.org/.

We hope you will stay safe. Please know that you are not alone and things can get better. We're here to listen, here to help.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m completely terrified of my parents. I always think that I should just end it here right now. I have big plans in my life. Like serving this country. I’m only 13 years old and stand at 4’10. I feel like when I’m as younger they gave me more love. I understand I deserve to get beat sometimes but not until I bleed or wake up with swollen eyes from crying. Please help..

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. Asking for help is really brave and takes a lot of strength. Home is supposed to be somewhere safe and you deserve to feel supported. Hitting or beating of any kind is not okay and it is never your fault. Having plans for your future is a really great step to take toward your future and something really exciting to look forward to.

It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) is always available if you need someone to talk to about how you have been feeling. Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Reaching out to a school counselor or another adult that you trust could also be a good outlet for you as well. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

Your parents are supposed to make you feel comfortable at home and from what you shared they are not doing that. One option that you do have is to report the issues at home. A child abuse report can get a caseworker involved. After making a report, a caseworker will likely come to your home to talk to you and your parents to decide if it is safe for you there. This can be a scary decision to make and you do not need to make it alone. If you want to know more about the reporting process or you would like to start the report, you can call the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Additionally we are here by phone and chat 24/7 to listen and help.

Please do not hesitate to reach out by phone (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us at 1800runaway.org if you want to talk more about your situation and your options.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi there,so basically my mom just beat me because I accidentally left food on a dish I washed and she got very mad and beat me she punched me and slapped me on the nose face and stomach and my nose started to bleed I really want to hit her back but I can’t cause she is my mom I really don’t know what to do I’m scared to tell other relatives because they are going to try to talk to her about it and when she find out she is going to continue to yell and beat me .

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. Everyone should be able to feel safe at home and it's not right for your mom to treat you this way. We care a lot about your safety and well being here at NRS and your mom's actions raise quite a bit of concern. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/.

If filing a report is the route you are considering, you can call or chat us and we can file the report on your behalf. You can also reach out to a teacher, school administrator, any medical professional or a police officer for help filing the report. Often times, documenting any injuries that you have sustained from the abuse (taking pictures of bruises from the punching or maybe the bloody nose) are helpful to investigators from child protective services. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

My mom just beat me for no reason. When i dont do nothing sheel probaly turn the wifi off or beat me with a extingshin cord ans she call me fat and all that im so ready to graduate and they gonna need me in life ion care what nobody say i aint gonna care about her when she get older.

[ccsmod10]

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. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

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 beat me up for missing assignments which reduced my grade to a 88. she makes me feel like i should suicide plz help

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) is always available if you need someone to talk to about how you have been feeling. Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Reaching out to a school counselor or another adult that you trust could also be a good outlet for you as well. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel safe and supported at home. It is not okay for your mom to beat you or hurt you for any reason. From what you mentioned, you are trying your best in school and that is something to be proud of. One option that you do have is to report the issues at home. A child abuse report can get a caseworker involved. After making a report, a caseworker will likely come to your home to talk to you and your parents to decide if it is safe for you there. This can be a scary decision to make and you do not need to make it alone. If you want to know more about the reporting process or you would like to start the report, you can call the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or go to https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/. Additionally we are here by phone and chat 24/7 to listen and help.

Do not hesitate to reach out if you want to talk more in depth about your situation. We are here 24/7 to listen and help (800-786-2929 ; 1800runaway.org).

Be safe,
NRS