17 almost 18 wanting to runaway across state

[Unregistered]

I live on one side of the US and my boyfriend lives on the other. I plan on running away after I graduate and 2 months later I would turn 18.

My grandmother recently passed away and my parents are divorced. I live with my grandpa, my dad and my brother, but i cannot stand living with them anymore. They pushed all of the repsonisbilities on me and took away pretty much my childhood. Couple times my dad literally grabbed me and try throwing me out when i told him i was going to move out. So im pretty sure he wont file a runnaway report.

Do you think it is a good idea? Either way if I turn 18 i plan on leaving, but leaving after graduation would be more convenient and avoid anymore family issues. My boyfriend's mother is willing to take me in, and she is willing to help me out with my plane ticket.

[ccsmod8]

re: 17 almost 18 and wanting to runaway across state

Hello and thanks for reaching out to that National Runaway Safeline. It seems like things are difficult at home for you right now and we are glad that you are reaching out to us. We’re sorry to hear that your grandmother has recently passed away and that you are not happy living in your current home. No one deserves to feel unsafe in their own home or to be grabbed and thrown out. Have you told anyone about how your dad treats you? If you feel as though you are being abused or your home is unsafe, there are many options available to you such as filing an abuse report. You can do that through any trusted adult (such as a teacher, doctor or counselor) or through us at NRS.

It seems like you would really like to go to your boyfriend’s, but that you are aware that there might be some issues with that. Only you are the expert on your own life, so we can’t tell you if it’s a good idea or not. What we can do is offer support to you and help you consider some options that might be available to you. Have you considered staying somewhere else with your dad’s permission until you do graduate and turn 18? Sometimes a parent will give permission to stay with another relative or friend of the family if you talk to them about how you are feeling. It sounds like you have considered how you’d get across the country to your boyfriend. Have you thought about what your plan is to support yourself? These are all important things to consider and it sounds like you are trying to make wise choices. If you want to call us and talk more about your situation, we are available 24 hours a day at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk. Otherwise, you can chat with us from 4:30-11:30pm CST at 1800runaway.org. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to further discuss your situation. Hope to hear from you soon,

-NRS

[Unregistered]

Replying:

My plan was to live right after I graduated, I would be 2 months from turning 18. I highly doubt I would have a place to stay till I turned 18, I didnt plan on telling my parents until the day I leave, so I would live here till I graduated. I do not have a great relationship with the rest of my family,and alot of my friends are going to leave for college too.

Yes I really did have considerations and I have been doing alot of research. I plan on taking a year off of college to work where my boyfriend lives, then start attending community college.

Does the runaway law apply to me even though I have close to turning 18?

[ccsmod8]

re: 17 almost 18 and wanting to runaway across state

Hi again. We are glad that you feel comfortable contacting us and that you followed up about your situation. It sounds like other friends or family might not be an option for you. While we are not legal experts, we can tell you that in most places until you turn 18, your legal guardian has certain rights and responsibilities for you. If you wanted more specific information on your rights, you can always contact your local police department by calling the non-emergency line for more information. You can also call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY and we can connect you with some legal aid resources in your area where you might be able to get some answers for your legal questions. Best wishes,

-NRS