Children saying they are going to run away

How old are these sons? I remember my 6 year old telling me she was running away so we packed her suitcase and she made it out the front door to the corner then realized she didn't know where to go from there, of course I had followed her where she couldn't see me. So after she sat there a few mins. I walked up and told her time to come home to lunch and that was the end of that. If you live in a big city or other places where it is not safe to let a child do this you wouldn't want to try this. When my teen age son would threaten to leave, I would agree maybe he should but to remember not to call home for bail money. This worked for a while, mainly because my kids knew I would do what I said I would. It all depends on the relationship you have with your kids and what you can stand to do. But I never let mine hold me hostage and I never let them know it would tear my heart out if anything happened to them. My youngest was the worse, she faked a breakin of her room just to get attention so we sent her away to spend the Summer with her Grandma who lived in a very rural area, no shopping, or movies to hang out at. She was very glad to come home and put her attention to school after that. Many kids are spoiled and don't know how bad things can get, we just gave ours a very mild sample, to show how good their lives were.

Children have a way to get their parent's attention. And that is one of them, threaten. It is a matter of time for them to understand that parents have to go out once in a while to make a living or to run an errand. Take your time, consistently assure him that you love him and will there for him no matter what.