Why do children have to scare you?
@sprite1950 (30453)
Corsham, England
May 12, 2018 2:28pm CST
Yesterday my 11 year old granddaughter did not come home from school at the usual time. Normally she would be home at 3.20 pm and when she hadn't arrived by 3.30 pm I wasn't too concerned as I thought she was probably dawdling with her friends.
When it got to 3.45 pm I was beginning to feel alarmed and went out to search for her. I asked people if they had seen her and walked the route she normally follows but no sign of her. By 4 pm I was frantic and imagining the worst but just as I had given up hope I saw her walk round the corner. It turns out there was a cake sale in her school playground with a very long queue. I hugged and scolded her at the same time as I was so relieved.
Children are so vulnerable and I couldn't help thinking that someone had snatched her as we hear such awful things on the news.
I hope that none of you have had the same experience as it is quite terrifying. Just a few minutes of them being missing can seem like a lifetime.
The picture above was take a few years ago at one of her swimming lessons.
26 people like this
30 responses
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
Yes, children tend to lose track of time when they are out and about and do not realise how much worry they cause us.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
@JustBhem I suppose we were all like it once,
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
13 May 18
@sprite1950
Yes, because they are so naive.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130231)
• India
13 May 18
These days there is the facility of a cell phone. If the child does not have it atleast the teacher has one.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
They are not allowed to have them at her school and when I rang them I got no reply so I felt completely lost.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
18 May 18
@caopaopao Does it need a sim card? I imagine it would to be able to use it outside.
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
18 May 18
@sprite1950 My daughter has a phone watch, and I can get in touch with her at any time, and students in their school are not allowed to bring mobile phones to the campus. So the phone watch is a good choice.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (216034)
• Chile
12 May 18
We have all done things like that. Now streets are more dangerous than before. My daughter just let her 15 year old son go to school by himself.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
They like us to prepare them for High School and suggest that we let them walk to school by themselves in the last year of primary school. Her road sense is excellent so I never worried about that but I have always worried about predators.
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
15 May 18
Thank you, She is pretty but thankfully she isn't interested in boys yet!
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
16 May 18
@nela13 Yes I expect the boys will be knocking on our door in a few years 
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55761)
• Portugal
15 May 18
@sprite1950 at the age of 11 it is normal. She will be a beautiful woman.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
12 May 18
Happy Mother’s Day, @sprite1950. Your granddaughter is a beauty. I would worried too if I were you in your place. I am glad to know she is fine too. Looks like she wanted that cake. 
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
Thank you. Mother's Day is in March here but she did get me a lovely card and present. Yes she does have a very sweet tooth! 
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
@mlgen1037 Most seem to share the one you have. I don't know why we are different.
@morgoodie (2645)
• United States
13 May 18
Oh how terrible for you! I can imagine how frantic you were. I don't know what I would do if something happened to either of mine. I worry about them being taken when they walk to their grandma's house even though it is only a couple of streets over, but still these happen really fast.
Your granddaughter is so cute. She is going to be a beauty when she grows up. Keep an eye on her as the boys are going to be knocking your door down.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
15 May 18
@morgoodie I must admit Teagan has one (just my old phone) and it has been a godsend when I want to know where she is. The only thing is they are not allowed to have them at school which is why I couldn't contact her when she didn't come home.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
Well, she isn't interested in boys at the moment and I hope it stays that way for a while. Yes she is pretty, that pic was taken when she was around 8 so she's a little older now but still very attractive.
I was talking to another member here about a watch where you can text people. If they meant an Apple watch it's too expensive but I'm going to search for cheaper versions.
1 person likes this
@morgoodie (2645)
• United States
14 May 18
@sprite1950 It is good that she isn't into boys yet. My daughter went off the deep end when she started school. Going through puberty really opened her boundaries up. I haven't looked into the smart watches. I refuse to buy phones or anything like that for my children. I can't afford it for one and second I just don't think they need it. So many of their classmates have their own phones.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
21 May 18
What a lovely little girl. As a mother, I can fully understand your feelings. If my child doesn't come home from school on time, I will be worried, Just like you.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
21 May 18
Yes she's very cute which makes it all the more worrying. She is going to a friend's house after school tonight and the mother is keeping me informed and bringing her back so I don't have to worry today.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
22 May 18
@caopaopao The mother brought her back at 6.30 pm and she had a lovely time.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
21 May 18
@sprite1950 That is fine! We need to know where the child is so that we don't worry.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
Yes I think I probably did it to my parents too at times.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
@LadyDuck I bet she was especially in the snow. Sometimes it is not our fault.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459629)
• Switzerland
14 May 18
@sprite1950 I surely did once, but it was not voluntary. It snowed, I could not find my bus card and I came home from school walking in the snow. I arrived at least one hour later and my mom was scared.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118630)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 May 18
Thank God this story had a happy ending and that she returned to you unharmed! I would have been frantic if I didn't know where my kids were. They are teenagers now, so I don't worry quite as much as I used to, but just the thought of anyone's child turning up missing gives me anxiety.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
16 May 18
I was really frightened as she has never been late before and she knows to come straight home. I remember there were times when my own kids were small and they scared me by doing a disappearing act now and then.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
16 May 18
@moffittjc It's not until we have our own children that we realise how important it is to let our parents know where we are. I remember staying out all night once and when I got home my parents had called the police! My mum was so upset that she started crying when she saw me. Mind you I got paid back ten fold with my son!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118630)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 May 18
@sprite1950 I'm sure I gave my own parents quite a few scares over the years by not communicating with them of my whereabouts. I remember once telling my mother that "no news is good news." I told her that NOT hearing from me meant that I was okay. Looking back now, that was a really stupid thing of me to say! But it's funny, we still often joke about that nowadays when we haven't talked in a while.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
12 May 18
I know how scary that can be as mine did that a couple of times when they were younger, sometimes our children just don't understand the dangers of hanging around some where and not letting others know where they are. I am glad she came home safe and sound and she learned a valuable lesson.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
She said she knew she had been longer than usual but did not realise quite how long. If the school had picked up when I rang they would have traced her for me. It's a horrible feeling when they worry you like that.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
@cintol That sounds ideal. Do you know what it is called Cindy?
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
13 May 18
@sprite1950 I know it is, my daughter just got my grand daughter a device, its a watch for children hooked up with the phone. She can put 5 numbers in for Shy to call if she needs too, she can also text and it has a GPS in it in case something like that were to happen. My daughter can track it from her own phone. Its a good piece of mind for her now.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99390)
• Canada
12 May 18
So glad everything worked out fine. I have experienced that feeling a few times. It is so frightening to feel that way. She is a beautiful young girl.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
Thank you. I think when they are very pretty it makes it worse because you think someone may have got hold of them. She knows better than to talk to strangers though.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
16 May 18
@Happy2BeMe I always say to her when she goes out the door to school "Don't talk to any strangers!"
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99390)
• Canada
15 May 18
@sprite1950 That is good then. It is good for them to be aware of their surroundings. One can never be too careful.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
Well she knows not to talk to strangers and there are a lot of people about when she comes out of school so it's not likely she would be taken as someone would notice, but I was still scared.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
16 May 18
@aureliah It pays to watch them closely, Children have gone missing in this country and it is so frightening for the parents.
1 person likes this
@aureliah (24321)
• Kenya
15 May 18
@sprite1950 My mom and I ensures that we have oue eyes on my 5 year old son as long as he is not in school
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
No but we had a man in a white van hanging about the schools once and the police were involved. He tried to get some teenagers to get in his van. I don't think anyone was arrested and he disappeared after a while.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
15 May 18
@rheicel We were all worried for a while and extra careful with the children but he's not around now.
1 person likes this
@rheicel (7065)
• Philippines
16 May 18
@sprite1950 He's still dangerous even if he's not around anymore he might come back again and wait for the right moment. They should hunt that guy. Are there any CCTV footage of him?
1 person likes this
@Bullshark (3477)
• Netherlands
13 May 18
Does your granddaughter use a mobile phone? If she does, then you could perhaps use a tracker app on yours that can passively keep an eye on her whereabouts. 
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
She's not allowed to take it to her present school but when she goes to the high school in September I think they let them there,
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
15 May 18
@Bullshark Thank you. You wouldn't say that if you could hear me shouting at her to get ready for school right now! Haha, she is so slow in the morning!
1 person likes this
@Bullshark (3477)
• Netherlands
14 May 18
@sprite1950 You're a good grandparent. Keep an eye on her...
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
12 May 18
That is very natural ...we get anxious till the date if we miss to receive a message from our son and and daughter in law on time. They invariably message us when they reach their respective offices and when they are returned back to their place! they also message when they completed their lunch. Despite that we call them to talk in the evening or they call us! I think this concern is very normal and everybody of us must have faced this in their lives! Thanks!
1 person likes this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
13 May 18
@sprite1950 , Yes, I can understand that! Thanks!
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
It is a very scary feeling. I was so relieved when I saw her coming up the road.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (4171)
• Philippines
20 May 18
I am glad that everything is fine. I always scold my sister for not texting where she is... since she was in high school, she never really learn how to send us a message about her whereabouts... Until now that she is working already, she really can't open her phone if she is in a meeting or just went out with her office mates for dinner. my mom and I always scold her because of that.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
20 May 18
I think we all worry about our loved ones. My granddaughter knows how much I worry and she does try not to go off for long periods of time but on this occasion she didn't realise how long she had been.
@CookieMonster46 (13447)
• United States
18 May 18
Wow, I would have been scared too.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
18 May 18
I felt sick with worry. I seem to remember my own children doing the same thing on occasions.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
20 May 18
@CookieMonster46 I think she did but she didn't realise she had been so long, I could have cried with relief when I saw her walking down the road.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13447)
• United States
19 May 18
@sprite1950 I am glad she was safe, I guess she didn't realize you would worry if she was a bit late.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
28 Jun 18
I think she would normally but neither of us had any idea on this occasion.
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
12 May 18
Had you known beforehand about the cake sale?
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
13 May 18
No and although I rang the school there was no reply. They could have let me know and I would probably still have gone down to the school but would have felt better,
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
13 May 18
@sprite1950 It seems like the school should have sent notes home with all of the children beforehand. It would let the families know about the sale, and then the kids would be more likely to bring money to buy things (and maybe some of their family members too)!
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
14 May 18
@spiderdust They usually do but maybe I missed it or she didn't bring it home. It was very frightening.
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
28 Jun 18
Hi! Your grand daughter looks cute and adorable..
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
29 Jun 18
She is sometimes but not always! 
1 person likes this
