Ask Amy: I basically ran away from home at age 10, and I’m struggling with what happened

Dear Amy: I am a 16-year-old boy with two older siblings. I have lived with my grandparents for the last six years.

I used to live with my parents but gradually spent more time at my grandparents’ house. This eventually evolved into spending entire weeks at my grandparents’, and later bringing my belongings there.

I now believe that I basically ran away from home, and I don’t feel content with this decision I made when I was only 10 years old.

It’s hard to identify if my relationship with my mother was abusive, as she never broke any laws; still, I never felt comfortable living with her, and my dad would exhaust himself at work every day and wouldn’t get home until very late at night.

My mom and dad are now divorced and live in separate homes. My mom has a new boyfriend. She seems happier and more stable than when she had to deal with three children. Now I feel even more regretful for running away.