Why Teenagers Run Away

Too many teenagers run away FROM something, rather TO something. "Many teenage runaways leave home in search of safety and freedom from what they consider abusive treatment, whether physical, sexual, or emotional" (Anon 814). Running away from home is usually a quick decision. It may be a sudden decision. It may have developed in the mind for sometime. All too often, teenagers who run away don't want to return home.

SOME DETAILS.

"Some leave to escape a mother's death or a stepfather's sexual molestation, but many teens feel they are running away from parents who don't want them. Although stereotypes portray an anxious mother and father hovering near the phone for news, the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services says that about 40 percent of this country's homeless young people have parents who actually locked their children out of the house. These children, often called "throwaways," may come from families who just can't deal with adolescents, or don't have the money to support their family" (Goodman 1992 1). Ms. Goodman (1992) also says that drug and alcohol abuse by the teens is a big reason why they leave. "Forty-four percent leave because of other long-term problems such as drug-abusing, alcoholism, or stepfamily crisis" (Goodman 1002 1). In other words, it is not always the parents' fault.

One problem teenagers have at home these days is that both parents may be working. Mom and Dad aren't around much. They spend little time as a family. Often, an older sibling may have to take care of younger ones. So they have little free time to spend with their friends. Absence of a parent does not make the heart grow fonder. Oftentimes a runaway will complain that he or she is not loved any more. Sometimes the problem has to do with money. They can't wear expensive clothes like some of their friends. They can't buy tickets to concerts, or CDs or DVDs, or go on dates. For many teens economic obstacles are hard to deal with. They feel they are victims. They believe the outside world is better. For some reason, running away makes them feel free, unsupervised, no curfew hours, homework, dress code, eating habits. For some teens, running away is a rebellion against adults and against authority. For some it is fear of consequences for something they have done (bad grades, taking something that didn't belong to them, breaking up with a boy- or girl-friend, even deciding they are gay or Lesbian is often a reason to run away. What can parents do? One simple answer is to communicate. Listen. Help. Understand. Try to solve the problem.

CONCLUSION:

Running away solves nothing. What many teens learn is that they are no safer on the streets than they were with their parents or guardians. They need to feel they "belong" and are safe at home. Together with adults, things can be worked out.

WORKS CITED:

Goodman, S. (1992) "The Real Life of a Runaway

Current Health 2. Stamford Ct:: May 1992.Vol.18, Iss. 9, pg. 1

No author listed: "Book review of Teenage Runaways: BrokenHearts and 'Bad Attitudes'". Adolescence, Winter 1999 v34 i136 p814