15 yr old wants to leave home

[Guest]

I'm only 15 but I want to see if there is a legal way for me to either get a new family to live with or to move out of my own. My parents control every aspect of my life and I've become so emotionally tired of it I want to leave as soon as possible. I was planning to wait out the 3 more years until I'm 18 but I don't know if I would be able to. I currently don't have any friends to go to because we recently moved and we live nowhere nearby any relatives. They are the reason I've been developing depression since childhood and have had suicidal thoughts since I was young. I'm supposed to be the perfect child they picture in their head but I can't and they hate me for it. I'm not allowed to do anything that would make me happy. I'm not allowed to date until I'm in college, go out with friends, use any social media, or even have a phone. The only thing I have is my laptop which I can use during the day for online classes and then they take it back. And even better they're homophobic, racist, and sexist. They said that they'll disown me if I ever turn out gay or even if I date a black guy and I honestly wish they would. I'm not allowed to even be associated with black people or gay people. I'm supposed to be a straight A student who's obedient, skinny, and gorgeous. Sucks for them that I'm none of that. I've never been good enough for them and they always let me know. My mom is always tell me to lose weight and that I'm ugly and fat. Another one of her favorite sayings is that I should get a nose job when I'm older. They tell me constantly to my face that they don't love me, they wish I had never been born, and that they don't consider me their child. They also hit me whenever they're mad at me with whatever they feel like. I've been hit with things ranging from shoes to even big blocks of woods that are supposed to be used for building instead of hitting your child which they don't seem to understand. And no matter what happens I'm always in the wrong. Even when I am right about something they don't acknowledge it and just bring up something else they have a problem with about me. So yeah I won't be able to contact any phone numbers because I don't have a phone to use but if there's any other way I can do this please let me know. I'd give everything to have a new family that loves me or even just having the freedom of living by myself.

[ccsmod8]

Hello there,

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum. Hopefully by helping you during your crisis, there are many other that can read this thread and find help themselves. So sorry that you’re going through so much right now. It must be hard to feel like your family don’t accept you.

Now something to keep in mind if that we aren’t legal experts here so we can only give you general information about runaway laws and somethings to consider. Since your 15 yrs. old this makes you a minor and under the care of your parents/legal guardian. If you pack up your things and left home, your parents would be able to make a runaway report in the event that you do run away. Since it’s only considered a statues offense and not a crime to run away, the only thing that would happen is that the police will pick you up and bring you back home.

You have mention some verbal and physical abuse at home. If you don’t feel safe please consider making an abuse report. Since you don’t have a phone check out (www.childhelp.org) for more information. It's to our knowledge that they don't take abuse reports themselves, but they can provide you with some guidance on what abuse you might be experiencing and what the process is if you choose to report it to someone. We can also help you make an abuse if you do find a way to call us at (1-800-runaway).

If you have family that’s willing to step in and support you that could be an option, but again you’ll need your parents’ permission. There also emancipation laws based on your state that could make you a legal adult before you reach 18. Emancipation isn’t offered in every state it also take a lot of time and money.

If you want to explore this please feel free to call us. Hope this answer some of your question. We’re here to help if need anything else. Best of luck!