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Original poster

Running away as a kid

42 replies

Fusterclucked · 23/09/2023 20:54

Did anyone else ever try this? I remember always trying to “run away” from home as a disgruntled kid. Packing a jam sandwich and not getting far.. maybe disappearing for the day before going home again hungry. This was in the 80’s.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 23/09/2023 20:56

Yes I was always flouncing off down the road and I never got very far. I was a bit of a brat as a kid.

Girasoli · 23/09/2023 20:58

I never did, my DBro did it a lot though...he'd go sit in the field behind our house in a huff (DM kept an eye from the garden) until he got cold or hungry and then he'd come home again.

Bubblemoons · 23/09/2023 20:58

Yes I remember running away with my brother, we were probably about 5 and 7 and were jealous of our baby sibling. My mum just ignored as and acted like she hadn’t noticed we had been gone when we got back. We had probably been gone for about an hour. A good approach actually as we never bothered again.

motleymop · 23/09/2023 20:58

Yep - in the 80s too. I was musing on it the other day - I'd forgotten about it. I wondered if i was genuinely unhappy, or just an attention-seeking brat! I don't think I ever packed food, but I fantasised about running away and one day did make it to the communal gardens at the back of our house, before being retrieved by my mother.

Deadringer · 23/09/2023 21:03

I remember my brother running away, he was actually hiding in the wardrobe. He stayed in there for hours with a torch and some snacks, my parents never even noticed! I contemplated it a few times, once I packed a bag and camped out in a local field for an afternoon, again my parents didn't notice, probably because I was home in time for tea.

Original poster
Fusterclucked · 23/09/2023 21:05

I remember one of the times I did it I went and knocked at my friends house to ask her mam if my friend also wanted to run away with me and her mother taking me inside and gave me custard creams while my friend “packed” we soon forgot all about it and watched telly for a bit instead 😂

OP posts:
ElenaFisher · 23/09/2023 21:05

I ran away aged 12, went to my older sister’s house. When I got there, I said no to going back home, my parents then disowned me. It’s been a rough ride since, but escaping was the best thing I ever did.

murasaki · 23/09/2023 21:06

I ran, or rather cycled away to stay in the park with sandwiches and squash and a blanket in my bike basket. I had a nice time, but then it got dark, and I was scared, so I went home. No one had realised I wasn't there, much to my chagrin. Didn't bother again!

I suspect I was only gone a couple of hours or so.

sarahh96 · 23/09/2023 21:07

Yep when I was 15. I packed my suitcase with my teddy. Nothing else would fit in so I just took that. Walked round the village with it for a couple of hours, realised no one was going to look for me so went home. They hadn't even noticed I'd gone but to me and Ted is was an awfully big adventure

Mrsjayy · 23/09/2023 21:10

There was a swing park near my house I used to huff on the roundabout 😂

Original poster
Fusterclucked · 23/09/2023 21:11

Yeah I was never missed either! Parenting in the 80’s was very different

OP posts:
broken86 · 23/09/2023 21:14

Yes when I was about 11, I packed a bag and wrote in my lockable 5 year diary that I was going to miss my parents but I needed to do this (how dramatic)

My plan was to hitch hike from Scottish highlands to London to start my new life.

Unfortunately I slept through my planned 4am wake up so that was the end of that plan

ShutTheDoorBabe · 23/09/2023 21:17

Yea. Nobody noticed!

Mrsjayy · 23/09/2023 21:24

Yeah it was different we had more freedom preteens today are not really allowed out and about like I was.

Mrsjayy · 23/09/2023 21:24

broken86 · 23/09/2023 21:14

Yes when I was about 11, I packed a bag and wrote in my lockable 5 year diary that I was going to miss my parents but I needed to do this (how dramatic)

My plan was to hitch hike from Scottish highlands to London to start my new life.

Unfortunately I slept through my planned 4am wake up so that was the end of that plan

Oh 😂

Original poster
Fusterclucked · 23/09/2023 21:27

broken86 · 23/09/2023 21:14

Yes when I was about 11, I packed a bag and wrote in my lockable 5 year diary that I was going to miss my parents but I needed to do this (how dramatic)

My plan was to hitch hike from Scottish highlands to London to start my new life.

Unfortunately I slept through my planned 4am wake up so that was the end of that plan

😂

OP posts:
jolaylasofia · 23/09/2023 21:28

when my daughter was 2.5 she packed a little sofia the first backpack, got on her trike and scooted down the front path saying she had enuff and was going to live in the effugee camp

googledidnthelp · 23/09/2023 21:29

We lived in an upstairs flat but had. Downstairs hall and under stairs cupboard, I packed my hamster in a shoe box and ran away to the cupboard under the stairs. I got bored before anyone noticed.

Justleaveitblankthen · 23/09/2023 21:54

broken86 · 23/09/2023 21:14

Yes when I was about 11, I packed a bag and wrote in my lockable 5 year diary that I was going to miss my parents but I needed to do this (how dramatic)

My plan was to hitch hike from Scottish highlands to London to start my new life.

Unfortunately I slept through my planned 4am wake up so that was the end of that plan

I love this 😂

Islandsadness · 23/09/2023 21:56

sarahh96 · 23/09/2023 21:07

Yep when I was 15. I packed my suitcase with my teddy. Nothing else would fit in so I just took that. Walked round the village with it for a couple of hours, realised no one was going to look for me so went home. They hadn't even noticed I'd gone but to me and Ted is was an awfully big adventure

Why was walking round the village a big adventure for a 15yo?!

And why did you take your teddy 😂

ApocalypseNowt · 23/09/2023 21:57

I remember threatening to run away and my mum asking where I'd like dropping off with her car keys in her hand 😂

Lovemusic82 · 23/09/2023 22:07

Deadringer · 23/09/2023 21:03

I remember my brother running away, he was actually hiding in the wardrobe. He stayed in there for hours with a torch and some snacks, my parents never even noticed! I contemplated it a few times, once I packed a bag and camped out in a local field for an afternoon, again my parents didn't notice, probably because I was home in time for tea.

My brother and I did similar, we hid under his cabin bed,the drawers were broken so we pulled them out and climbed in, we took food (cream crackers) and stayed there for hours, no one came looking and after a while we get fed up eating dry cream crackers so came out 🤣.

BananaPyjamaLlama · 23/09/2023 22:10

No I never did but I thought about doing so A LOT. But didnt because I feared wherever I would end up would be worse than being at home. So I stayed and stuck it out.

GG1986 · 23/09/2023 22:38

Yup packed a sandwich and ran down the road with my sister, mum came running after us! Then as a teenager with my friend, we were in town until 10pm, think we got scared and hungry so called her mum to come and get us, we were about 14.