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17 year old male left home - options?

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jaawn

New member
MO - Our 17 year old son got a ride from his 1/2 sister when he was at work one night, unbeknownst to us. She lives 1 1/2 hours away. He is refusing to come back home. He is not emancipated. Since he is not 18, can we legally "force" him to come back home? We are very concerned that he will not complete his last year of school and that he will just do whatever he wants since he has no parental supervision where he is.
 


cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
Since he is not 18, what you say goes. A poorly written law in your state means that law enforcement is sometimes reluctant to return home a 17 year old who is in a safe place. But there is nothing in that law that prohibits you from driving to where he is and bringing his disobedient ass back where it belongs.
 

jaawn

New member
Since he is not 18, what you say goes. A poorly written law in your state means that law enforcement is sometimes reluctant to return home a 17 year old who is in a safe place. But there is nothing in that law that prohibits you from driving to where he is and bringing his disobedient ass back where it belongs.
My thoughts exactly
 

cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
While you have the right to do this, if he turns 18 in November you may want to consider what you plan to do at that time if he runs off again. Is your (admitted) right to drag him back home and asserting your parental authority (which again I agree you have the right to do) worth the damage to the overall relationship it might cause? You might want to just consider allowing him to make his own mistakes.
 

stealth2

Under the Radar Member
So, in three months, he'll be an adult.

Is he safe? Why does he refuse to come home? Is he a capable (to care for himself) kid? What plans does he have for the future? How feasible are they, whether he's with you or where he is now? There does come a point when you have to consider your future relationship.
 

HRZ

Senior Member
Few realistic options beyond jawbone and pocketbook:

school may not be cumpulsory after age 16 in MO ....varies by district ...check your district.

In theory for 1/2 sister to interfere with custodial parent could get her hot seat...it's a misdemeanor . She might be smart NOT to harbor him if you go try to pick him up.
 

stealth2

Under the Radar Member
She might be smart NOT to harbor him if you go try to pick him up.
However, OP would be wise to consider the ramifications to the relationship w/the kid, moving forward.

ETA: It would also be wise toconsider the ramifications of OP's/spouse's relationship w/the half sister...
 
Last edited:

adjusterjack

Senior Member
End of November
Let it go. As a practical matter any "legal" options are going to take months anyway.

Give him your blessings but NEVER give him any money.

Sooner or later he'll figure out that he can't make it on his own (or maybe he can) or his half sister will get tired of supporting him and he'll come back on his own (or he won't).

It's time you let him experience the consequences of his actions, no matter how bad they get.
 

Shadowbunny

Queen of the Not-Rights
As others have said, it's time to cut off the financial strings. No phone, no car insurance. If he wants to live like an adult, he should be free to do so, but at his own expense.
 

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