17 in 6 days and Trapped

[Guest]

Theres a Lot to explain, the basis of it is that my father and stepmother ae trying to make my life miserable at this point, theyve even admitted to it. But their doing it in subtle was so I cant do much about it if i get someone involved. For instance they dont let me go out and do stuff with others because "I didnt do enough to help out" or they wont let me express myself with things such s hair and clothes I BUY MYSELF. They are also taking away my job, this makes it so i dont have an escape from the house. If I "lie" (even though im clearly telling the truth) i have to give them a sum of money and its really starting to add up. Im not allowed to go out and attend normal events such as school sporting events or extracurriculars. Im noy even allowed to do sports. All i need is a place to go until im 18 and i have no clue how im going to do that. Theres more to all of this that would take awhile to explain but this is already really long. PLEASE HELP!

[ccsmod11]

(If you feel you are in immediate danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room.)

Hi,

Happy early birthday! Thanks so much for reaching out. First of all, we’re so sorry to hear about what’s going on at home. Sometimes the subtle issues with parents are the hardest because even though it might not seem like anything is wrong to outside people, on the inside things can stack up and weigh on you really easily. You especially deserve the freedom to keep your job or wear what makes you feel confident. We would love to hear more about your story and give you more personalized and confidential help, but we’ll do the best we can below. Please feel free to reach out to us directly any time to talk to a real person. The NRS is here 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-880-9860).

If you feel safe to do so, we would encourage you to talk to your parents about how you’re feeling and tell them how their rules are affecting your happiness. You may be able to get a better understanding of where they are coming from and make a compromise that will allow you more freedoms and the ability to keep your job.

It sounds like you might be planning to leave home soon to get away from it all. This is a very difficult and personal decision and we support you no matter what you choose, but your safety is very important to us. If you do choose to leave, you have a few options you can consider:

1. Going to stay with a trusted friend or family member for a while (more on this below)
2. Finding a youth emergency shelter and staying there until you can figure out next steps
3. Moving out with parental permission
4. Staying home and doing what you can to make the most out of the last months until you turn 18 so that you can be as successful as possible when you move out.

Some legal things to consider:

If you do choose to runaway without your parents’ permission, your parents could choose to file a runaway report with the police. The police will then find you and bring you home. Although you wouldn’t get in any trouble with the law, there is a possibility that any person you are staying with could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a criminal charge. This issue goes away once you turn 18, since in most states you will be considered an adult. The way to get around this would be to get written permission from your parents (an email, text, note, etc) stating that you can stay with your friends. That way if they decide to press charges, you have proof that they gave you permission.

We also want to stress how important self-care is during this time. Please reach out to your trusted support network for guidance and a listening ear, and practice hobbies that relax you. Maybe this is writing, watching a favorite TV show, or running around your neighborhood. Taking care of your mind and body will help you be better prepared to make tough decisions ahead.


Again, we are for you 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-880-9860). Thank you again for reaching out and we wish you the best of luck with everything!