Kathy's Korner: Dealing With a Defiant Teen Who Runs Away

Kathy's Korner: Dealing With a Defiant Teen Who Runs Away

Kathy's Korner: Dealing With a Defiant Teen Who Runs Away
Adolescent Tips - Get the latest headlines from the About.com Parenting of Adolescents GuideSite.

A distressed mom asks for help on the blog: I have a 17-year-old daughter that has runaway at least 10 times in the last 2 years. Each time she leaves, I wait 48 hours then call the police. I am very frustrated with this and am stuck at this moment with what to do. She is not at home as I am writing this. She has called me and when she does, she acts like nothing has happened. She is now refusing to come home and I really don't know what else to do. I love her with all my heart, I have had her in home counseling and outpatient therapy, she is just defiant and wants to do things her way. Rules are just not followed at all. The smallest thing, like not using the phone or saying no to a football game because she was in trouble at school or skipped school that day, will lead to her either leaving after school and doing just what I said no to. I am at the end of my options... read the rest of this mom's question, Kathy's response and give us your opinion here.

Kathy's Korner is a blog posting on the new and useful resources from our Troubled Teens Writer, Kathy Rudlin, LCSW. Look for it regularly and please feel free to leave Kathy a message in the comments area.
Source: About.com Parenting of Adolescents