Maybe you went through this with your little one - packing a little suitcase by himself, with a shirt and an apple in, screaming at you that he hates his house and he is running away. Just to go and sit at the back of the house for an hour or two and then come back to the safety of the house, all forgotten...
Hopefully it was just a 'stage' that blew over, but unfortunately there are many kids that do run away from homes, and not always 'bad' homes. leaving their parents behind worried and in distress. Not all kids have parents that worry about them and some kids believe that running away is their only solution they have to get away from their situation they are in, or get away from abuse.
'Running away' is a huge problem among kids and in America alone you will find millions of 'runaways' on the streets and unfortunately most of them do not get a better life on the streets.
Kids run away for different reasons. It can be because of a huge argument, it can be because they did something that they are ashamed of and do not know how to face their parents. Drug abuse can play a huge roll and also abuse and sometimes it happens that kids run away without parent's having any clue on why they did it.
A lot of time kids think that running away from home will solve their problems, but they do not see that living on the street will create new problems that they will not always be able to deal with. They see running away as a solution because their will be no adults and no rules, but they do not think about the dangers and where they will get money for food and a place to stay.
Unfortunately many kids that end up on the street, even if they are 'good' kids, will have to turn to stealing or drugs to make living on the streets bearable.
You as a parent must try and understand why your child would consider something like running away. If you know you are doing your best as a parent, you will have to sit down with your teenager and discuss their feelings and why they are thinking about is. If a child feels he can speak to his parents, without them blowing up at them, you can sort out many problem.
You can be there for your kids, but they also need to understand that they cannot use it as a threat to get their way. Living in your house, means obeying your rules and sometimes they will have to except that they are the children and will have to do certain things, even if they are not happy with it.
If your child is addicted to drugs and runs away to 'score'. then you will have to get them help. Even if you are the most lovable parents, you will have to get professional help for your child.
If you suspect any form of child abuse going on with a child you know, you will have to report it to the authorities that they can help get the child to a safe place. Just leaving the child to 'sort it out' will not help and they will either stay stuck in that situation or run away, which will not solve any of their problems.
Take time and sit with your child and discuss their fears and what makes them unhappy and try and come up with a solution, but once again, do not let them threaten you, so that you will just give in to all their demands.
Raising kids can be a very difficult job and you will not always have all the answers and many times you will feel like giving up or not knowing if you are doing the right thing, but remember there are many people that can help you. Even if you and your family needs to go for 'counselling', then do that.
The children are our future and they have the right to be protected and be loved, but the also have the responsibility to grow up to become adults that plays a positive roll in society, and with that they will often need help.
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