Runaway with Someone

10 Things to Ask Yourself Before Running Away

1. What else can I do to improve things at home before I leave?
2. What would make me stay at home?
3. How will I survive?
4. Is running away safe?
5. Who can I talk to about the situation?
6. Am I being realistic?
7. Have I given this enough thought?
8. What are my other options?
9. Who will I call if I end up in trouble?
10. What will happen when I return home?
    Have other questions? Call 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Things to Do Instead of Running Away

Visit your grandparents . . . go to the movies . . . go to the mall . . . take a writing class . . . take up scuba diving . . . take up skydiving . . . learn to swim . . . learn to line or salsa or clog or tap dance . . . learn to speak French or Spanish or Polish or Italian or Swahili . . . learn to play the trumpet . . . teach someone how to play the banjo . . .become a nanny . . . tutor other kids . . . volunteer at a shelter or a hotline or a hospital or a nursing home . . . make a movie with your friends . . . keep a journal . . . write a novel . . . get to know extended family members better . . . take up acting . . . dye your hair to match your favorite outfit . . . go on a picnic . . . join a community group. . . organize a neighborhood clean- up . . . plan your future. . . get a job . . . play with your little brother or sister . . . help dad clean out the garage . . . help a neighbor cut the grass or shovel the snow. . . clean your room . . . open a lemonade stand . . . join a baseball team . . . join a bowling league . . . read a book . . . write a book . . . run a marathon . . . train for a marathon . . . support a marathoner . . . take a singing class . . . go to a museum . . . volunteer to be a museum guide . . . attend a street fair . . . become a storyteller at the local library . . . train for wrestling or football or track or basketball . . . join a volleyball team . . . visit the art institute . . . take up drawing or painting or sculpture . . . go to the zoo. . . volunteer at the zoo . . . get a job at the zoo . . . spend time with your family . . . learn to cook . . . cook for your family or friends . . . become a mentor . . . seek a mentor for yourself . . . go to a baseball game . . . go hiking . . . attend a concert . . . become a camp counselor . . . take up photography . . . wash the car . . . learn to sew . . . teach someone how to knit . . . organize a car wash . . . start a dog walking business . . . join the park district . . . babysit for a neighbor . . . take up power walking . . . talk to your parents about when they were teenagers . . . talk to someone – a friend, a teacher, a favorite relative, your parents, your coach or 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Have other questions?
Call 1-800-RUNAWAY or visit www.1800runaway.org

More Resources:Lisa’s Diary
Read about Lisa, who was away from home for five days.

Ashley: Finding a Way Home
Is running the best answer? Find out what it’s really like.

Surviving a break-up
Are your parents separated or divorced, or have you suffered the death of a parent or sibling?

Coping with a family break-up
Are your parents separated or divorced, or have you suffered the death of a parent or sibling?

Family Communication: Sharing Feelings
How many ways are there to communicate? Here are just a few to get you started.

When a Friend Wants to Run Away
What do you do when it’s your best friend who’s in pain?