I’ve just been thinking about this topic and wondered how common it is. So here’s a few questions to get you started on the topic of running away:
Have you ever actually run away from home?
How old were you?
Why did you do it?
What did you pack, if anything?
What was the reaction of your family?
How long did you stay away?
What made you come back?
If you have interesting runaway stories to tell from your kids or sibs, please share them here also. I’m interested to see how many folks ran away seriously, and how many when they were four.
I’ll start. After one too many arguments with my mom, I packed one suitcase and headed for the door. As I was only four at the time, the critical issue was the nap I refused to take. She had no objection to my going and watched me as I carefully packed clean underwear, a sweater (which I would never, under any circumstances, put on if she asked me to) and my roller skates. I stepped smartly out the door and headed determinedly to the end of my street, whence I promptly wheeled and came straight back. When I knocked, my mom answered and asked me why I had returned. “Because I’m not allowed to cross the street,” I told her. However, I don’t believe I ever took that nap – on that day, anyway.
Still not quite sure on this part…I think I was just bored at home, so decided to take off and leave. I knew my parents wouldn’t let me, so I didn’t bother telling.
Clothes, random knick-knacks, and my computer’s hard drive.
Shocked, but glad that I was okay. I got no real punishment, just had to see a counselor for a few months.
Two weeks, almost exactly.
The people I was with started getting nervous about getting found out…I eventually started getting homesick, so I went to the police station and told them I was a runaway. They contacted my parents, then I waited until they came and picked me up.
Looking back, I can’t believe I’d hurt my family and friends like that.
typical suitcase, 4 or 5 sets undies, sleeping sweats, 2 pair jeans, 4 tshirts, one fairly nice outfit[office causal]
Well, I told my parents I didn’t want them in MY house, as I was pretty tired of being treated like a kid
Stayed away 2 nights
Because they left Virginia Beach
>backstory…
I know my parental units were coming for a visit, and I did not want them coming into my house because first hubby was starting to renovate the kitchen and it was a mess. They showed up on my doorstep first thing in the morning despite me telling them John and I would meet them at their hotel for breakfast. I silently went upstairs, packed and got in my car and left for a hotel. I left my number as a message for the current mrAru [who was our roommate back then] to call me when they left.
They finally understood that when I said something, I was serious, and I refused to be treated like a child ever again.
And people wondered why I sent the wedding invite to arrive thursday morning for a saturday wedding 350 miles away. sigh They managed to make it friday morning and she immediately tried to take over and give me the wedding SHE wanted. [though that was a different trip…when I married John. When I married Rob.mrAru we eloped.]
I ran away when I was 13…for a wager from my friends, and because my older sister had come to live back home and I couldn’t countenance the thought of both of us under the one roof.
A friend and I did it together, and decided to nick off to her aunt’s house, because her aunt was cool and understood poor misunderstood teenagers.
We were apprehended by my friend’s father barely 3 hours after we had absconded.
Can I sugjest adding one more question because I am curious … BTW good
question(s) and topic!
What percent of people do you believe have run away?
Yes.
17
Felt m parents were pushing me to do something I did not want to do. I had graduated
High School. I didn’t know yet what I wanted to do in life and felt going to collage
should wait till I figured out what I wanted to be first. My parents, would not listen
to me and forced me to go to the local community collage with an undelcared major.
So I was taking all the general courses like Comp & Lit I.
A clothes, toiltries (tooth brush ect …), raidio and some tapes.
The usual, shocked concerned, worried and scared shitless. When I came hope,
glad as hell I was OK. Then big long talk and they finally listened to my feelings.
One week excatly!
Ran out of miney. Supidly though I would be able to get a job that
paid higher than minimum wage. I called my parents and the bought a train ticket
home for me.
My added (8). I think its high. 30 -40% woun not surprise me!
Ditto to what Electronic Chaos said about looking back!
At the time (85) radios were Boom Boxes, so I almost got mugged going into
the subway at Grand Central Station in NYC. Yelling as loud as I could for the cops
saved me!
It’s one of those you have to learn for yourself things. If your friends and family
aren’t hearing or listing to you, running away from the problem will not work.
You have to sit them down, have a heart to heart and make sure they really
listen to you and understand your feelings.
That said, I also beleive that most of the time parents do not listen to their kids,
believing they “know better” until something drastic happens. And that, obvoiusly,
causes a lot of serious problems.
My twin brother ran away a few mouth after I did, for the same reasons. Thats
why I believe that a lot of time parents don’t listen … no matter what. After me,
they still wouldn’t listen to him. He went on the lamb with someone, so
he lasted three mouths.
I answered this in its entirety then realized I really don’t feel like rehashing some old unhappy times on this message board. So I’ll just abbreviate it to say twice as an adult, and the second time I was more sent away then run away.
I did try to run away once at 5 years or so on my Big Wheel. My dad caught up to me three or four blocks away and loaded Big Wheel and all into the station wagon. I wasn’t angry or anything, just riding off into the sunset you could say.
First time at age 11; left home pretty much for good at 14.
Why did you do it?
Completely unhappy with all aspects of home, school, social - everything.
What did you pack, if anything?
At 11, nothing. Later I took a backpack with clothes, a blanket, and books.
What was the reaction of your family?
Worry.
How long did you stay away?
At 11, about six hours. I realized the Egyptian museum would be closed by the time I walked there, so I went in a fire station and they called my folks.
What made you come back?
I realized the Egyptian museum would be closed by the time I walked there, so I went in a fire station and they called my folks.
One of my brothers and one of my sisters also had a tendency to take off. The others stuck it out.
Why did you do it?
I was suspended from school, and facing a massive grounding from my mother. I was involved with a guy, and the idea of not seeing him was too much to bear. :rolleyes:
What did you pack, if anything?
Probably not much more than a few outfits and my cigarettes.
What was the reaction of your family?
My mother promptly called the police.
How long did you stay away?
One evening.
What made you come back?
The police were looking for me, and my boyfriend had put me up in the upstairs of his father’s house. I got a little too close to the window, and a neighbor saw me and called the police. The cops put 2 and 2 together, and came to pick me up.
I was a really troubled teen, and sadly, things like that were commonplace in my youth.
In my family, if you say “the time DFQ ran away”, they’ll ask you to be more
specific…
Yes, I ran away.
To save time, I’ll just give you the facts…
1st time-I was 5, ran to an elementary school down the street to find my sister…
got locked in the school, police were called, my parents were hysterical.
2nd time- I was 13 1/2…had an argument with my mom about going to some
party. I went out my 2nd story bedroom window, walked to Memphis State
Univ. (now Univ. of Mphs.), called a minister/counselor we knew who had an
office there. He came to talk to me, called my parents & said I was okay but
that I was very upset & angry and that if everyone was agreed, he’d take me
to his grown daughter’s apartment for the night & then he’d pick me up from
there & bring me home. I had an absolute blast that night…his daughter was
really cool, I saw that people actually could smoke pot & not become demons,
and I was ready to go home the next day. My parents welcomed me home,
told me that I didn’t have to leave home, that I could always talk to them…
3rd time-Maybe 2 months later…another fight with my mom…me out the
bedroom window again. No money (either time), I started walking…this is
like 3am. I’m walking down Poplar (major street in Mphs) and this VW Bug pulls
up, one guy inside, & he asks if I’m okay, do I need a ride? I say no, leave me
alone. He says, Look, it’s not safe for you to be out here. I’m figuring you ran
away. Let me take you to the Police Station. They can help you. After a few
minutes, I actually got into this man’s car! And he actually took me to the Police
Station!!! If he had been a rapist/killer, my body would never have been found.
Police called my dad, he picked me up…parents happy I was home but grounded
me.
4th time- 14 1/2…fight with my mom (seeing a pattern here?) about going to a
party with my boyfriend (who she actually liked). She didn’t want me to go to the house
where the party was being held, this escalated into a yelling match & she used
the words “if you keep this up, maybe I’ll just ground you from seeing David”
I was 14 & in love & this made me nuts. So out the bedroom window I went…
and I landed wrong & broke my ankle. I had to hobble around to the front door
and ring the bell (it was 11:30pm) and my dad took me to the ER. I was on
crutches for weeks. My mom finally left me alone…my dad seemed to understand
that I wasn’t wanting to go out & drink or take drugs or steal cars or vandalize
property. I just wanted to be with my friends or go hang out alone for a while
and I simply didn’t want a bunch of grief about it.
There’s more but I don’t want to bore you guys senseless…
I’ll keep talking if you want though!!!
Have you ever actually run away from home?
I tried.
How old were you?
13-ish
Why did you do it?
Selfish reasons - I wasn’t getting what I wanted (now I don’t even remember what it was that I wanted so bad, and I obviously did just fine without it). I got pissed, went to my room and turned up my stereo as loud as it would go. My dad came in and threw my stereo on the ground, so I ran out the door.
What did you pack, if anything?
Nada.
What was the reaction of your family?
My dad was too pissed off to be concerned at that point, but my mother ran after me crying.
How long did you stay away?
I made it to the end of the driveway.
What made you come back?
Seeing my poor mother, crying.
Now that I think about it, I was just being selfish and obnoxious. I have a wonderful family and I always had a great home. I used to toy with the idea of running away when I was little. I was a bit of a rebel. Luckily the ‘angst’ phase passed after high school.
As for EnderWay, I hope the percentage isn’t that high! :eek: I only knew one person in high school that seriously ran away, and she had a very bad home situation. I say maybe ~10% average (which still seems a little high), and probably lower outside the US. Do we have any international runaway stories here?
It’s kind of an involved story, but basically I was clinically depressed at the time and my parents decided that I wasn’t getting well fast enough for them and they wouldn’t allow me to see my psychologist, who was the only one helping me. I got mad, me and my dad screamed some nasty things at each other, and I ran out.
I didn’t have any time to pack, so the only thing I grabbed was my school bag. I had my cell phone, some money, and various other things.
Angry and worried. More angry, I think.
About 8 hours.
I was in no position to leave, really. I knew that dropping out of school was a bad decision, and while I could’ve stayed at a friend’s house, it wouldn’t have been practical to stay there until I graduated.
8.(my question) I didn’t really know where I was going… I wound up heading towards my old nursery school when I cut through a street not knowing it was a dead end. I wound up crying by the side of some lady’s house. My mom had called one of my friends, and she and her mom picked me up and I stayed at their house for awhile.
I think the percentage of people who have run away is pretty high (about 30-35%) but most of them were kids and didn’t make it that far before they went back home.
Why did you do it? I honestly think I was bored. I wasn’t rebelling…I think my girlfriend and I had this idea we’d live with these two guys and be their maids and all would be happy and bright.
What did you pack, if anything? All my clothes, money from my change bank, money from my brother’s change bank, and some toiletries.
What was the reaction of your family? I broke my mother’s heart and half scared her to death. I tried to sneak back in to get something a few days later but my grandfather had nailed my bedroom window shut.
How long did you stay away? About a month
What made you come back? I finally talked to mom and told her my room made me depressed so she painted it and promised to allow me to do EVEN MORE of the things I shouldn’t be doing. I was spoiled rotten to the point that it sickens me now.
Why did you do it?
My mother threw me down the stairs (again) and I was sick of getting beat like a dog.
What did you pack, if anything?
Nothing.
What was the reaction of your family?
My mother called the police, they picked me up, then handed me over to her. I promptly got the beating of my life when we got home.
Kind of long but: We moved to California to get away from my alcoholic abusive stepfather. We moved in with my grandparents. My granfather was also an alcoholic and abusive. For some reason he had a bug up his ass about me wearing shorts (don’t know what the hell that was about). He hit me, I hit him back and split.
What did you pack, if anything?
Nothing.
What was the reaction of your family?
Two of my borthers knew where I was and bought me clothes and food.
How long did you stay away?
4 days. I was staying at this girl’s hous a couple of blocks away.
What made you come back?
The longer I thought about it the more I realized that I wasn’t going to take the shit. I decided to have it out with him. My Mom and Grandmother were glad I was back. My grandfather claimed to have no memory of the fight at all. It might have been true, he’d been well into a fifth of Scotch at the time, but he never laid another hand on me.
Compared to people who have REALLY run away from home, no, not really. I did once run down the street and lie down on the lawn of the school for a half hour or so, in junior high or high school.
Also, when I was a toddler, whenever the front door was left open, I would apparently start crawling for it like a baby possessed. It was called “{my name}'s break for freedom”.
Have you ever actually run away from home?
Sorta, in a little-kid kind of way.
How old were you?
Pretty young - based on where we were living at the time, somewhere between 5 and 11. Likely closer to 5.
Why did you do it?
I can’t remember why. I was upset at my mom, that I know.
What did you pack, if anything?
I don’t remember. It probably would have included my blanket and my stuffed cat, Softy Kitty, though.
What was the reaction of your family?
My mom said “I’ll miss you very much” as I was declaring my intention to run away.
How long did you stay away?
I made it to the end of the driveway.
What made you come back?
I thought about how I was going to miss the dog… and then about how I was going to miss my mom… and then about how she was going to miss ME… and I got all sad and came back.
