Running Away from Home

Vital Checklist for Teenagers

Sep 2, 2008 Edurne Scott

Vital checklist for teenagers running away from a non-violent, non-abusive home (just because).

So you´re thinking of leaving home and thought you should do a google search on anyone that could give you some advice. You´re in luck. Here’s your vital checklist for teenagers running away from a non-violent, non-abusive home (just because):

Sorry, but the odds are that you’re going to go back home by the five day mark (if that). Don’t do or say anything you’ll regret later on. Your parents will always remember the time you said ‘You’re a failure’ or anything else meant to hurt, before you walked out the door with a toothbrush and a plastic bag full of spare clothes.
Go to a good friend’s house. Tell their parents you need a break from home and if it would be okay to stay for a couple of days. Offer to wash dishes, clean windows, vacuum floors, cook dinner -- whatever it is that makes your presence more pleasant. Don’t take a shower for longer than a couple of minutes.
Don’t run away from home as a means of procrastination. Study for that test. Finish that assignment. The teenager that turns up at school with a ‘I got chucked out of home, I couldn’t study’ excuse during exam time is not going to get any sympathy.
Your parents will ring you. Don’t ignore them. Tell them you're safe at so and so’s house. Once again, if you’re under 17 you’re most likely going to go back home -- don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
If possible try and nip things in the bud before they get to a stage where you have to run away. Get a hobby. Sign up to some clubs and courses. Try and stay busy.
Running away from home with no money is a stupid idea.
Running away from home with an acoustic guitar looks cool but is impractical.
Come up with a good apology by the time you turn up home again. Buy your Dad some of his favourite food and pick your Mum some flowers. Respect the fact that it’s their house you’re moving back into.
And finally, don’t worry -- by the time you realize it you’re going to be out of home and in your own room or flat. It’ll be the best time in your life.

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