im 16 and u want to move out of my parents house

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hi I’m 15 years old and I’m from Michigan.

Hello,
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 in your life right now.
It sounds like you’re fearing that the stress from the situation is getting harder and harder to handle.
We are sorry you are going through a tough emotional time.
Having your family lie to you about your father does not seem fair. We understand your reaction of frustration and hurt.

Sometimes when things are too stressful and you don’t know where to turn it might help to talk with someone about it.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. It sounds like your dad’s ex-wife has reached out to you and offered her home as a place where you could feel comfortable and appreciated. Good for you.
It must be a good feeling to know you have her support. Hurting yourself does not have to be an outlet. There may be other more positive ways to cope with everything.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. You are free to talk and explore options for your situation. You did wonderful reaching out today. You are your biggest advocate.
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).

You are welcome to discuss your situation and talk about possible options for help.
What you did today by reaching out was great. Good job.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

Hi, I'm from Utah and I'm 15 years old, I'll be 16 in less than 20 days. I'm verbally abused by mom every day. It makes me feel worthless and disresepected. I've been told I'm not allowed to get 12 hours of sleep because I'm 'irresponsible and don't do enough with my life.' My dad has a full time job and spends plenty of time outiside the country. I want to runaway, possibly to another state, but I can't financially support myself. I am a full time student, I play soccer and basketball and can't find enough time to balance school, soccer, basketball, and dealing with my family. I have no time for even a part time job. I have a place I can stay in Missouri with my girlfriend, but I don't know how I'd get there or if I'm even allowed to leave at the age of 16. I'd give everything up in utah to get away from my parents and siblings just to stay with my girlfriend where I know I'll be emotionally sound and safe.

[ccsmod7]

Hi there.

Thanks so much for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline and sharing part of your story with us. It sounds like you’re going through a tough time at home. No one deserves to feel worthless or disrespected. It’s understandable why you would want to remove yourself from an environment in which you don’t feel safe emotionally. Trying to balance your time when you’re involved in so many different things can be quite challenging. Seeking new time management skills like making a daily schedule and calendar might be useful. In addition, it sounds like you care a lot about your girlfriend and feel that living with her may be the safest option for you. It’s great that you have someone you can turn to when things get rough but it also might be helpful to consider what the potential consequences of running away and staying with a friend may look like.

Although, we don’t have a legal background, in Utah it appears that you would have to be 18 years old in order to leave home without seeking parental consent. If you do decide to leave your parents have the right to file a runaway report. If a runaway is successfully found and you make any contact with police, you may have to return back home. Also it’s important to keep in mind that your friend could be face harboring charges as well if you are found staying with your friend.
If you decide to stay you may also want to consider telling your mom how you feel when she calls you irresponsible or makes you feel worthless. If you need help with wording this please do not hesitate to give our hotline a call at 1800-runaway or come chat with us at 1800runaway.org. In addition to our hotline if you feel that you are unsafe you can always make a report with child protective services about what you’re experiencing at home. The number to child protective services in Utah is 855-323-3237.

Again, we are so happy you reached out to us and we wish you the best of luck. Happy Holidays, Take care.

[Guest]

I am 15 and want to move out of state on my own by 16-17 (Currently living in Utah)

Hey there, I am currently living in a town some may consider a "white picket fence" sort of neighborhood where everyone is rich and everyone expects perfection from both themselves and everyone else. Its getting to me because, regardless of how great it might sound, my current situation has taken a huge toll on my mental health. I feel constantly pressured to have straight A's, have the perfect look, the perfect family, an have no real issues. Everyone here is fake and never genuinely cares about others. They simply judge them in silence while they put on the act of actually caring. Some may not see through it like I do and genuinely see this town as "perfect". I feel so alone, being one who actually cares about others, therefore allowing me to get used by others, and one who actually wants to get out and explore the world. I don't want to stay in one place all my life and all I hear in this town, this whole state as a matter of fact, is that it is better to settle down early, get married as soon as you graduate, and have kids immediately. Yet quite frankly, I want to truly live but I feel anything but life here. I feel like a bird trapped in it's cage while everyone tries to clip my wings. I want to leave because the longer I stay here, the smaller and smaller the cage gets. I feel stuck and empty. I want to leave so that I can truly be happy. I don't know if I will be able to stand it here until I am 18. I know I will have a huge breakdown before I reach the legal age to move out. I am so tired of simply waiting for time to pass by until I can officially leave legally. Is there any way, other than emancipation since my parents wont allow it, that I can move to another state where my parents would actually consent to me leaving? I would continue my high school education on my own but I have no idea how or if I even can leave. Any suggestions?? Any help is needed.

Thank you, Gracie

[ccsmod3]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are living in a place where you don’t feel like you belong. You feel alone, stifled and disconnected from those around you and can’t see how this will ever change.

Fortunately, you are not alone -- this is a common feeling many of us experience at some time in our lives. Sometimes it can last for awhile, or be very temporary as we meet new friends or get involved with new activities that inspire and energize us. Also, as you say, when you’re an adult, you can live wherever you want!

It sounds like you already understand the legal age for being an adult in your state so you have some time before you have the independence to move away and live the kind of life you choose.

You are asking about the emancipation process and you note that your parents would not allow this, so it probably makes sense to set that aside as a realistic option right now. You also ask about other options for living in another state with your parent’s permission. The most natural option would be if you had family in another state and they (and your parents) allowed you to live with them while you attended school. Perhaps that’s an option for you?

If this isn’t an option, then perhaps you can think about how you improve your quality of life without going anywhere. This could be as simple as making new friends or getting involved in new activities or groups at school -- these could help address that feeling of disconnection you have.

You can also go inward and do things that help you process your feelings -- such as creating art or writing. Based on how powerfully you expressed your situation in your post, we can see you’re a good writer! Perhaps that’s your key for unlocking a better future?

You know yourself better than anyone. What have you done before when you’ve felt this way? Let’s try that again!

Thank you again for reaching out to us and we hope this has been helpful. If you’d like to discuss this anymore, please don’t hesitate to call us at the National Runaway Safeline. You can reach us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

[Guest]

Hi I’m 16 I just turned and I live in New York and I want to move out because I’m honestly not built for this harsh treatment anymore my mother take my anger out on us and complains very aggressively all the time and most of the time I stay quiet but I feel as if I’m going to burst...honestly

[ccsmod15]

We're glad you reached out to us. We'll try to help. It's unfortunate that your mother takes out her anger on you. You don't deserve to be treated harshly. It's understandable that you would want to move out. You might want to look into moving in with a family member or friend. We can provide you information on shelters if you prefer. You can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk more about the situation and look into options. You deserve to live in a safe and loving environment.

[Guest]

I'm 15, I live in florida and I'm going to be 16 in may. I want to leave my parents house because I don't feel respected and I'm being emotionally abused. I want to know if its ok for me to leave their house and move in with a friend

[ccsmod0]

Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you are not being treated right at home and you would like to know if you can move in with a friend. We are not legal experts but generally speaking a person is not considered an adult until they are 18in most states. (Nebraska 19, Alabama 20, Mississippi 21) This means that their guardians are legally responsible for them. So the parent is required by law to provide for the youth (food, shelter, school, etc.) If they fail to do so then they can face legal consequences. This also means that the youth cannot live anywhere else without parents’ consent. There are exceptions to this rule but those include getting the court involved such as emancipation or Child Protective Services removing the parent’s rights.
It is understandable that you would want to leave a pace where you are being verbally abused. 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.
If you need help with anything else or would just like to talk about your situation we are here for you. Please do not hesitate to give us a call anytime 1-800-786-2929
Best wishes,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm Alyah I'm 16 going on 17, I'm very depressed and stressed living in my parents’ house. I'm in an alternative school graduating early, I need a job but my parents won’t take me to get one and won’t drive me to work. They refuse to help me get my license, and I can never even talk to them about anything. I'm constantly depressed I don’t get any sleep, I have to go to my friend’s house to even get any sleep. Can I move into my grandparents’ house if my parents do not give me permission? Or is there any way for me to leave and move in with another adult family member?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hi I'm Alyah
I'm 16 going on 17


Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

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 are having a tough time coping with living in your parent’s home. We understand that things can become so stressful that it’s hard to know just what you can do about it.18 years old is generally the age that an individual may leave home without permission from their parent or legal guardian.
We are not legal experts here but we can speak in general terms. If you are under 18 and leave home without permission, your parent/guardian may file a runaway report with the police.
Also you might check with your local police department to inquire about the runaway laws in your state or if someone that moves out of their parent or guardian’s home at 17 without permission would they be considered a runaway and forced to return home.

It sounds like you would like to stay with your grandparent’s.
One thing you might consider is trying to come up with a plan and possibly asking your grandparent’s to speak with your parents about the possibility of you staying with them.
What would the time frame look like in regards to long term or short term? Immediate or after graduation? It is also important to practice self-care. You mentioned that the situation has you feeling depressed and sleep deprived. Counseling may be an option to help sort things out and come up with a coping plan. You did a great job by reaching out today.

NRS is here to listen and here to help and be supportive.
If you would like to talk more about your situation we are here to listen and here to help.
To speak with someone on our crisis or chat line contact 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800runaway.org

We look forward to hearing from you.

Take care,
NRS


We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

im 14 but at the age of 16 i wanna go live wit my friends until i finish high school n go to collage im not at risk my grades are good n i do sports but i wanna have more freedom than what i have here....will i b able to go live wit friends at 16 without my parents calling the cops or trying to bring me back to live wit them i live in alliance ohio....i just wanna know if what i suggested is possible 4 me 2 do?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out to us NRS. We understand it takes great courage to reach out for help.

We are sorry that things have been so difficult. It sounds like you are thinking about leaving home. Leaving home can be hard and it can be helpful to think about where you might stay for food, rent, or other living expenses. It can be unsafe to outside on many situations. We are not legal experts however if you are to leave home there is a chance that if your parents are to file a police report the police can bring you back home and whoever you are staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway.
Talking to family members, friends or school counselor can be helpful in many cases. Family counseling can be helpful in many situations. You could contact SAMHSA at 1-800-422-4453 for any counseling resources. We also offer a conference call service where you could call us and we can conference call with your parents and help come to a common ground.

We are here to support you through this hard time, listen to you and explore options. You can call us at 1-800-786-2929 or live chat with us at www.1800runaway.org and click chat. We wish you the best and hope to hear from you soon.
Best,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 15 i turn 16 in june i live in florida an me an my step dad don’t get along he’s a toxic person,my mom will chose my side and start crying if i say i’m going to a friends because he’ll say i don’t belong in the house an i don’t live here yet i do cause i have a whole room,just because of how negative he is but then not even a couple days later she’s perfectly fine with him i get it’s there own marriage they solve whatever they need to but she chooses a man over her daughter, she has 3 others with this guy and my oldest sister lives in arizona just because he drove her out this house for how toxic he is.anyways i want to know is there any possible way to move out at 16?

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your mom’s permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your mom. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. 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. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi i’m 16 about to turn 17. I live in indiana. I don’t want to live with my mom anymore she has got me and my gf to break up because she wasn’t allowing me to see her. we have been dating for a year and a half now. i have a job and i’m already in ged school i’m getting full time at my job. I want to move in with my gf in the house she is renting that we are both financially stable to pay for and live safly. But i don’t want my mom to call the cops or have me come back home.

[ccsmod2]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us today at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’ve been having a hard time at home with your dad and step-mom at home. You mentioned being slapped and we wanted to offer the option to report that behavior to Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org which is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed.

You already shared so much of your situation with us, but sometimes it can be helpful to further vent about what is going on. It can be beneficial to think about who your support system is in a time like this, whether it be friends or other family members. As an addition resource, the website https://teenlineonline.org/ can be good if you are wishing to speak to other teens about what is going on via chat. You also mentioned wanting to live with your grandma, is that something you have discussed with her or your parents to see if they can help?

If you would like to discuss your situation further, please do not hesitate to reach out to us here at 1-800-RUNAWAY. If you are unavailable to call in, you can chat with us online during our chat hours. We can discuss your options and what you might want to do moving forward, as well as giving you more space to talk about what’s going on. We can also help you brainstorm ways to cope with this tough situation as well as possibly link you up to resources. Again, we want to support you so feel free to reach out to us whenever.

Take Care,
NRS

[Guest]

My friend is 16 and wants to move out she is being abused and has been for years can they legally move out in Colorado without being forced back home

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline we are here to help and here to listen. We are not legal experts but we will do our best to answer your questions. We are sorry your friend is being abused, that can be really scary situation to be involved in. One option your friend can consider is to call The Child Help Hotline at 1800-422-4453, and make a report. We know that making a report can be scary if your friend would like our help they can call us at any time. Because your friend is a minor if she were to leave home without permission she could be considered as a runway. If the police found her they would most likely bring her back home if they deemed it safe for her to return home. If they thought it was not safe they may find an alternate living arrangement.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore options more please give us a call we are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. We wish you and your friend the best of luck.
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I’m 15 and live in Colorado. I need to move out. I have a lot of mental health issues and living with my parents makes everything significantly worse. My mom yells at me all the time and makes me feel like a burden. Fights are frequent and I am constantly on edge at home. I dread going home and want to leave ASAP.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your parent’s permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

I’m from Texas and my mom makes me a slave at home I’m 16 and I can support my self and everything is it ok for me to move out?

[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. If you been experiencing abuse please do not hesitate to call us, the police, or CPS for help.
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]

Hi I just turned 16 and I need to move out from my parents. I'm already looking at a job but they won't let me and I've gone so much emotional abuse since I was 13 and I have resorted to cutting but my parents don't care. I've been told from them that I have been a problem ever since I was a baby. I need help to get away. I live in Florida.

[ccsmod8]

Hello there -

If you have contacted NRS today through another means (for example, live chat, email or bulletin) for the same issue, it would be helpful to let us know that you have already contacted us. NRS understands it takes courage to reach out for help; therefore, we would like to minimize the need for you to repeat your situation and avoid offering you duplicate services.

[Guest]

My girlfriend is 16 years old and we both live in the same home in Kentucky I’m 17, I’ve been living with her and her mom for about 7 months now and her mother is wanting to kick me out and I have till friday to leave, my girlfriend seems it’s unfair and it would be to depressing for both of us to leave each other, could my 16 year old girlfriend come to my dads house to live with me without parent consent, my fathers home and my girlfriends mothers home are about 13 miles apart so not that far away from each other.

[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 so is your girlfriend and she leaves home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, you would be 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