Welcome
Running away from home is a serious stuff! If you’re considering running away you need to slow down and THINK!:

• National Runaway Switchboard :http://www.1800runaway.org/rpc/index.htm
  A great source of information. You can email or call 1-800-RUNAWAY 24 hours a day (it’s free)

The Reality of Running Away
When you think about running away, you probably imagine that there will be no more rules, no parent to tell you what to do, no more fights. Sounds great and exciting, right? In reality, running away is anything but fun. Kids and teens who run away face new problems like not having any money, food to eat, a safe place to sleep, or anyone to look out for them.

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. . .

Rules of the road
43 Things is a place for your life dreams. We ask that you think about what you want out of life, beyond just this goal, and add your dreams to your list of 43 Things. This type of goal, when reported by other users will be cause for suspending a user’s account.