My 18 year old daughter ranaway from home. She wants to meet with me but will not come home. Can I make her come home?

She is not a runaway and is not missing.

She is eighteen and an adult.

Not much you can do about this now.

She will now have to answer to her own decisions.

No. She's legally an adult. The best you can hope for at this point is that your relationship with her will survive.

No. Cause she is an adult now.

18 year olds don't run away from home they leave home. No you can't make her come home she is a legal adult. I would suggest that you met with her with an open mind. Maybe if she doesn't feel like you are trying to make her come home she will come on her own. Be thankful she is willing to met with you. It shows that she wants a relationship with you though not necessarily on your terms.

That said if she does go home with you it should be with the understanding that she has to follow your rules.

Meet with her.
She must want to talk in a neutral location.
Give her the opportunity to open up to you.

Ultimately, she's an adult and therefore beyond your legal influence. There's no way you can make her do anything. If you even try, you'll only push her farther away.

She doesn't have money but I know she is looking for work and she is going to school, because I have been checking in on that. While I don't totally disagree with leaving, its the way she left that hurts. She didn't plan on leaving - those options were given to her after she finished school and went on to college. She left because we argued. I don't know why she wants to meet or if she is just playing the role to get to stay where she is at. Mixed emotions - I know we will get through this = but man it hurts = when all you want to do is help them and love them

Isn't It great when they grow up. Count your blessings. She didn't run away, she moved out.

well, she is 18 and in most states that is definitely considered an adult... there are even some states where you can't even do anything about it if they are 17. Do you know the reason why she wants you to meet her... money...to explain her reason...?

How does an 18 year old "run away from home?"

Isn't that called leaving home?


No you can't make her come home.

And you should meet with her if you want to still have a relationship with your daughter.

You can't make her come home...Just keeping the lines of communication open will be a great first step...Good luck... :)

I doubt that you can make her come home, but you can meet with her and maybe come to terms with what happened. Even if she doesn't come home, at least you can walk away from that meeting hopefully a little more at peace, knowing that your daughter still loves you and you still love her. Almost all teens that move out under similar circumstances, will go through a rough time before it gets better. It will take some time and some compromise, but it will get better.

Obviously you can't MAKE her do ANYTHING

Meet her someplace other than your home... try to find out as to why she is uncomfortable coming back home...you need to have answers to questions that cannot be discussed elaborately here. She would be wanting to meet you for monetary reasons or it could be emotional... can't jump to conclusions until and unless you meet her.... all the best for both of you.

Most likely:no.

Check your state's laws on the legal age of emancipation. You can call your local police department or family services to find this out.

why not sit down with her and have a ciggirite together and talk with her thats what I would do.

VS Amgel has good advice. Meet with her and let her do the talking, not you.
Only talk to answer questions and give advise as asked.
Tell her you are interested in her, love her and will help her through any difficulties, then follow up on that.
You can't force her to do anything!!
If needed, refer to professionals and caring people and friends.
Good luck.

I'm a young adult--just old enough to realize I made mistakes when I was younger, but still young enough to remember the pain of growing up. Speaking from experience, if you try to "make" your daughter do anything, you are just going to push her further away. Explain to her your reasons for wanting her to come home. Have good, valid, reasons. Don't say, "Because I'm your Mom and I say you have to!" If you present a valid argument and speak to her like an adult, maybe she'll make an adult decision and come home. Don't push her, though. You'll only push her away. Talk to her about why she left and show her you're willing to listen to her. You never know what can happen once you actually talk with someone and LISTEN to what they have to say. Whatever you do, though, don't try to force her into doing anything.

No. She is no longer a minor, so you can't make her come home. If you try to take her against her will, then that qualifies as abduction. Perhaps if you genuinely listen to her concerns, instead of looking for ways to "make" her do things, she'll want to come home on her own.

She claims she wants to make things right with me. She left after a screaming match about her not attending school and lying to me. We had a good relationship however for the past 4 years she struggled with staying focused on school. she follows who she hangs out with. Never really was one to go out and stay out late. Pretty much followed rules and very welled mannered. I am hurt, afraid, angry but I don't want to further push her away. However I do feel she will need to learn from her mistakes.

call the police - NOW. 18 year olds are stupid and can't use the bathroom without help. God, how ignorant are people these days to say an 18 year old is a legal adult. They are not. Just watch jerry springer and you will see for yourself. I don't care what the 'law' says. if you can't drink till you're 21, then you're sure the hell not mature enough to leave home.

Think about it..She's 18, an adult, and there was obviously a reason for her to runaway. Just be thankful that she wants to talk to you, invite her to family gatherings but dont offer for her to come home if she doesn't say something about it first. Make sure she's happy and safe where she is right now, and that's all you can do.