Hi all! I haven't been here in quite a while, and I've been telling many about this site - most recently this weekend at a conference dealing with children - mental illness and drug/substance abuse. This place here is phenominal. I've read many posts- and decided I would add my two cents without directly adding to an existing thread. I'm now facing a new horizon - my now 16 yo - ran away 2 weeks ago. She is safe, although I don't know where she is etc. (she hasn't called me). Prior to her leaving (the first time), she stole $8,000 in savings bonds from me - then cell phone, money and cut the cloth on my sectional. I told her a few weeks back that I can't believe that something like her came out of me. She is such a monster - and I have been dealing with it since she was 3 y.o. at 9 years old, I put her out of my home. In that time, she lived with my sister (out of state), institutionalized numerous times - short term, and 18months + 9 months consecutively until age 14. I'm extremely tired, and don't care if I ever see her again. I have no recourse, even though it is unlawful to runaway - nothing happens to her. She has all the rights, and I continually get threatened with abandonment - when I say I'm not picking her up. Regardless of the route that I take - I hit a dead end, and have no recourse but let her back into my home. She refreshes, steals stuff - and leaves again. She can do whatever she wants and I can't touch her, throw her out, just allow - or enable her to do whatever the HE_L she wants. I can't express myself to anyone because they don't get it - and believe it or not - it's supposed to be my support system. I'm on the verge of losing my house because since she stole my bonds, I can't make ends meet. Honestly, it' s peaceful in my home - and I don't want to ever see her again. I've suffered long enough because of her. I am in a better place than I was some years ago because for so long it was about her - not me. I;ve lost my son (13), because of her - he decided to live with his dad who filed full custody and I don't have the money to fight him. I make less than $1,200 a month - lost my job of 23 years because of her. I'm done venting, as I could go on and on. Lastly - it does get better after a while, but it seems to get bad again. I'm HERCULES - BECAUSE I CARRY SO MUCH BURDEN