what happens if I run away

[Unregistered]

I live in Houston, Tx. I am 17 years old and my 18th birthday is in less than two months. I graduated from high school a couple of weeks ago. My mom usually abuses me verbally and rarely physically. It's not so much the physical damage, it's emotional mostly. I want to run away. I have plenty of places to go where she will not look for me and I will be in good condition. But what are the consequences of me running away?

[ccsmod13]

RE: what happens if I run away

Hello,

We're glad you reached out to us. It sounds like you're not okay with your mom's verbal, emotional, and sometimes physical abuse and you want to explore your options. We are not legal experts and cannot give legal advice, but we are able say that, after you turn 18, you are no longer under the legal custody of your either one of your parents/guardians and are free to live wherever you like.

It sounds like you've done some planning regarding where you might go and/or with whom you might stay. Planning is a great thing to invest in, especially when you are thinking of leaving home for the first time and are not 100% sure of what lies ahead. We hope the places you can go are supportive, productive, and safe options for your transition out of current living situation. Also, do you have a plan for how you will support yourself financially? This is another area worth exploring and for which to plan ahead.

If you'd like to reach out to us again for further support or resources, you can call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us at www.1800runaway.org 7 days a week during the hours of 4:30pm-11:30pm. We wish you the best of luck and don't hesitate to contact us again via phone or chat in the future.

Best,
NRS