THE BOOZE THE CHURCH AND OTHER THINGS
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Uncle Jim,

I live in Michigan I am 17 years old and I was wondering if I could move out of my mother and step-fathers home to move into a home with a lady from the church I attend I believe it is for my benifite, My mom is an alcohalic and not affilitaed with a church in any way. She is the exact opposite as me I go to church I go to school I want somthing for my life but she just keeps bringing me down Please help........
 
Kaittye 
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Dear Kaittye,

The Michigan age of majority is 18 (search age of majority to be certain) therefore, legally you can not leave.

Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can bring legal intervention. Alcoholism, in and of itself, is not (in my experience) sufficient cause for emancipation.

Please consider this:
Being a teenager is tough. Even in the best of circumstances, parents are seen as jailers. I can't make a responsible judgement about your home life - maybe you can. If you are not being abused, have a safe home, clothes to wear, and food to eat, you have the basics. If you are allowed time to socialize with friends, do your school assignments, and have a part time job or some spending money, you should think carefully. If use of a car, a computer, cell phone, your own room, TV, or music equipment are in the mix, you are ahead of the pack but most likely a normal teen yearning to be free.

Some wisdom:
We, of all ages, tend to see our own circumstances as limited, limiting or lousy. Good times seem just over the horizon, cross-town, or in another home. All decent homes have standards set and enforced for kids. Without more information I can only ask you to evaluate your home life by the guidelines above. I have no way of evaluating the church lady. Maybe her intentions are the best, maybe she needs company, and maybe she is a predator. I don't know; neither do you. Both she and you should be aware of legal responsibilities and consequences attached to harboring a minor in one's home.

Inquire about help groups. You want to run away from your mother. Did you ever consider trying to help her?

By the time you sort all this out you will be 18 and able to do as you wish. I suggest you take a look at the writing ability displayed in your inquiry. It does not tell me that you are capable of supporting yourself. Is the church lady up to tempting the law and supporting you while you have total freedom, or will there be new rules and new demands that may be as tough or worse than at home?

Freedom is not finding a new freebie. Freedom is earned by acquiring marketable skills, finding employment, and becoming your own person - self supporting (rent, transportation, food, clothes, etc.).

[Uncleism: The truth is not what you want to hear; it is what you need to know.]

You sound like a great kid. Please get back to me in a week and let me know if I am making any sense with you.

Everybody's Uncle