Going by OP - he taught her some baseline level of skills, gave them opportunity to practice, and she spent some time preparing for this. Preparation usually means a slip up doesnt guarantee death, but it's all internet conjecture til he posts an update

This isn't your fault in any way. You're using the same logic as those who blame the gun instead of the person. You taught her how to survive (and might I also add enjoy a very fulfilling outdoors hobby), you didn't teach her to harm herself or run away.

You lessons may very well have saved her life. They say ignorance is bliss but Mother Nature is a cold hearted bitch who will strike at the unknowing.

Then you could potentially argue it was self defense (but only if she wasn’t the escalator and didn’t provoke it, which is murky here since based on the facts she approached him and tried to grab the bottle), but IF she went out and chased him, there are some courts who will find HE was using his right of self defense when she approached him with the intent to put her hands on him or grab the bottle, both of which could be considered an initial assault which he was defending himself against

You generally can’t use self-defense as a defense when you’re the one instigating the fight

I don't remember the exact stats but I was in a hypoxic state causing damage for like 70%+ every night, I got my nose worked on not too long ago for similar reasons and that seemed to help a lot so I may just stick with that for now

holy shit because i literally did this too

No doubt.

Mind you, when I was a kid, so, 50 years ago, having them out was super common. Like, I don't even think there was an issue with mine at that point.

Take care, dude.

I hope your wife leaves you.

NTA

You've taught these kids some amazing skills. This isn't a FU.

I'd suggest you consider some new skills to share with them going forward. You may need to reach out in your community for some help from professionals, but this experience shows these skills are needed! Teach these kids about mental health. Emotional intelligence. Conflict resolution. Resources available in the community. Teach these kids that not only can they survive in the forest, but they can survive in the rest of the world and be healthy and happy.

I'd also suggest you leave the church / religion out of this part of their lives. It's very damaging and divisive. It's an unfortunate institution that brought this amazing group together. Leave the religion out of your teachings and help these kids build amazing life skills!

Generally when you have church parents and a kid who is not about that life, a kid that is anything but straight, a kid that is interested in anything even slightly niche, they're going to get looked down upon by their parents.

Just because it's a church doesn't mean the kid isn't called a bitch or whore, isn't told to be normal, isn't getting hit, isn't being actively disallowed to participate in anything, isn't being neglected...

Perhaps her father beats her with a belt. You certainly don't know that. And you can't say he doesn't because even if you were living there, a true abuser would find a way. (Burning girls with cigarettes where their bra strap would hide the scar...). There's a lot of evidence of church parents being very abusive towards their kids that don't fit in their pretty little mold. And you always hear, "I never thought [he'd] do that!"

It comes from home.

You gave her the ability to get out of there.

By God, report them to CPS, especially if she returns. Something is going on at home.

Pretty sure you didn’t since it happened 2 days ago

Stay well

I get the feeling that we could be best friends just from reading your text dude. 😂

Pretty sure I read this exact story a couple months ago here

Due to people calling me out for being a POS I won't be taking any more questions

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stove top was burning, but there was no fire.

The room filled with gas, the situation was dire.

​

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

My sick sister arose to a smell that had spread.

Kids in their cozies, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a permanent nap.

​

When out of the kitchen there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the foyer I flew like a flash,

Kicked open the door and my sister was brash.

​

She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,

She opened the windows; then turned with a jerk.

And laying her finger straight at my nose,

You done fucked up, we were this close!

​

All's well that ends well, I thought in my head,

I apologize profusely, at least were not dead.

We gathered our stockings, and mittens, and coats

Then we ate breakfast, shoving food down our throat.

I don't think this is your FU. In my limited experience, religious parents often react very poorly to issues like depression, suicidal ideation and self harm because of the shame and misguided perception that it's a moral failing. Which often explains the issues in the first place. This is her parent's FU.

Well, maybe the doc is a Shrek fan?

Lemme know what he says. My doctor laughed his ass off and advised against touching myself for a few weeks

I did not. I was just above the threshold tho

You doing God’s work

I have an electric range. You get more control from gas everyone says. BFD. Gas is a pain and dangerous in multiple situations.

If she's cutting and then runs away in the middle of winter, it's far more likely that there is more going on at home than a bad reaction to discovering the kid is depressed. Psychological abuse is also horrible- even worse when coupled with physical abuse of some kind. Glad to hear you made it out of your situation and I totally agree it should be reported.

I wonder if this is a US thing, because I got given ibuprofen and paracetamol... That's it. It was utter hell but I never considered that they usually give heavy duty meds for it. Ironically I'm now terminally ill and connected to a 24/7 morphine pump, I guess I'm making up for it with all the fun drugs now haha

But for real, do the US really hand out opiates that easily?!

Edit to add, I also had a bleed the night after surgery, a big ole gusher, that needed a 2nd surgery. Luckily I was still in hospital that night or I probably would have bled to death, given my parents had intended on starting our summer camper trip on the day I left hospital...

Dude, NOT your fault! You had NO way of knowing this would happen, and I dont know you but I feel like i can safely assume that if you had any idea any of these kids was planning something like this you wouldve done something to stop it. I can understand you feeling guilty, but you didnt cause this outcome. If you were explicitly teaching kids to run away from home then yes.. but my dude, you are teaching priceless skills that these kids are insanely lucky to be learning from someone with the skills and experience you have. I was lucky enough to grow up in the country and was taught the same kind of skills you talked about and i have had to use them on many occasions, id be dead many times over had it not been for people like yourself that cared enough to show us and teach us these skills. Please dont blame yourself? This is not your fault.

you actually did the right thing, never feel bad about it