I want to leave my parents house.

[Ben from Washington]

Hello, my name is Ben and I'm from Washington state. In about a month I will be 17 and a half years old, and I want to move out of my parents place. My reasoning is that they do not pay attention to me, do not feed me regularly, and simply do not love me the way they love my brother. They have stripped away my sports, making me get a job to help them out because my mother is depressed and thinks she cannot get a job anymore. They put a lot of stress upon me, and I used to be a 4.0 student until my mother stopped working and put the workload of the family upon me. I am not so sure I can handle it, because I am alone. They are expecting me to get a job again, without a vehicle or license because they think I'm too irresponsible to drive. Please help me, I have nobody else to go to. Thank you.

[ccsmod3]

Re: I want to leave my parents house.

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out on our bulletin boards. It sounds like you're having problems at home and are seriously considering leaving your parents home. We're very sorry to hear your parents don't pay attention or feed you regularly. You deserve to live in a supportive environment where your basic needs are met. http://www.feedingamerica.org/ links to local food banks if it is a matter of cost. Even at 17, you could still try to file a neglect report with your local child protective services should you decide to go that route. More information on neglect can be found on Child Help of America's website: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/.

You shared how your parents don't love you the same way as they love your brother which we imagine hurts a lot. You also mentioned your mother is dealing with her own depression and it sounds like self-esteem issues too relating to employment. At the same time it sounds like the fallen workload has fallen on you and because of that your grades aren't what they used to be. We're also sorry you're expected to take on so much responsibility while dealing with challenges too (such as not having a driver's license or vehicle.) We're here to continue discussing your situation and encourage you to try out our Live Chat. We're not here to make the decision as far as leaving for you, but we can discuss pros and cons and hopefully help you get to a plan that makes you feel safe and comfortable. Best of luck!