Replies to '08/16 The Hunt for Amanda'

There are problems in every family. Sometimes a child can have the best parents who have raised them the best they know how, and still end up with a run away or a rebellious teen. I don't pity her too much. Her parents didn't beat her, they weren't on drugs nor were they alcoholics. I agree we don't know exactly what went on in the home and the invasion of her privacy may have been a little extreme or may not have been how the situation needed to be handled but this child does need intervention. The parents seem to be at their wits end, they obviously aren't the worst parents, they have one daughter who doesn't want to run away and who is happy at home. I think this kid is blinded by puppy love. At sixteen what kid doesn't think their parents don't understand them? She just wants compromise? Such as? She needs a firmer hand and less compromise.... 

A boyfriends family getting that involved with a minor, someone's child, someones family.  Not good.  It was obvious they were running and knew that they were hiding her.  No one's family is perfect, but it doesn't appear she has one so dysfunctional that it required running.  And if it were, taking her and running was not the responsible thing to do.  Report them then!  The boyfriends family was over involved with a girl that was not their responsibility or place.  Possibly her parents should have put the ax on that immediatly....but hind sight is 20/20.   

I have worked in mental health for years...there are BIG problems here!   

Amanda is a 16 year ld child, her parents are the legal guardians of her until she is 18 years old. Amanda made a choice and it was the wrong one.  Amanda said she only wants a compromise, yet a compromise for her would mean total freedom to do and act as she pleases no matter how harmful regardless of what her parents want I think she made that absolutely clear when she ignored Dr. Phi's question to her about that very subject. Whether she wants to admit it or not, she was participating in a harmful lifestyle that would eventually ruin her future. Intrincically, there is something wrong with people who do not have legal custody of Amanda taking her across state lines, without permission from her parents, it is called kidnapping. Amanda doesn't have any rights here. She has the right to have a roof over her head, 3 square meals a day, and clothes on her back  and a safe place to live. That is it. everything else is a bonus.--Including the cell phone.strealing her possessions--Now that is a crock! Her parents are not being disrespectful--she is with her beligerent attitude and sense of entitlement. 

Mom and Dad need to step up to the plate instead of letting their daughter bully them into giving her what she wants. 

You're right.  Amanda is perfectly willing to do most anything as long as it involves her side being heard.  I think she would sit tight if they would just get family counseling and her side could be heard and so someone would work on her mother.   Terribly unfair to say she's acting out as if that's an unreasonable reaction to what they've put her through.  The parents need more mental help than the kid does in this situation.  She is cooperative.  She just isn't willing to let them walk all over her and totally control her anymore.  She's brave.