My 15 year left with a friend and never came home

[Guest]

yesterday my 15 year old left ro spend some time at the beach with her friend for her birthday. She had asked for about a week if she could akeepover but I said no because of the covid19 virus. After she didn't respond for an hour she finally called and told a huge lie about being in Indiana and then being on an airplane. None of it made sense. Her dad lives in MI and she said he asked her to come. When I called him he had no idea what I was talking about and he also called her. After a while of this back and forth she got very hostile and told me that she was at her friend's house and she was going to be staying the night no matter what I said and if I called the police she would get emancipated. She has now been gone overnight and I don't know what to do. She said she will come home today or tomorrow but I have 2 other daughters at home and I can't allow this go happen again. Idk what to do. Do I call the police and have them pick her up and what do I do when she comes home because I don't plan on allowing her to see anyone for a long time.

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are very sorry to hear your daughter ran away and is providing you with some misinformation. That's concerning and stressful. Here are some things to think about, keeping in mind that we only share information and never tell anyone what they "should" do:

1. Filing a runaway report is one option you may want to strongly consider. You can do that with your local police or by calling the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.org) at 1-800-843-5678. Running away isn't a crime, but it is a status offense (similar to breaking curfew). If you know the address where she is at, the police could be sent there and she could be brought back home.

2) You might want to consider how you will handle a conversation with your daughter when she returns home. A page on our website has some tips and suggestions about this found here: https://www.1800runaway.org/parents-guardians/. You can also reach out for advice and support from Team HOPE (Help Offering Parent's Empowerment) at 1-866-305-4673. They are staffed by parents who have been in a similar place as yourself and can assist in thinking through how you can handle your daughter's return home.

3) Of course, you can always give us a call and we can talk through the situation some more, perhaps thinking of some other options you may have. We are confidential and open 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or you can chat with us via the portal at www.1800runaway.org. Feel free to share our number and website with your daughter as well as we are also here to support her in coming to a resolution that is good for you both.

We hope this helps and that we hear from you soon.

All the best,
NRS