Is this weird - helped a scared girl out on the school run and her mum didn’t give a shit

You did the right thing in helping her, but you should have taken her back to the school so they could deal with it and contact her parents, police etc.

IF the girl did have a habit of making things up, she could have accused you of anything.

Well done on stepping in though.

I'm not sure what you're misunderstanding in what I said, but I haven't criticised you. I said your actions were fine, but it was a possible incident in progress, so calling 999 would have been better and is therefore what you should do next time.

I totally get it OP, I once drove a friend three hours home across England after picking her up from hospital from a suicide attempt of all things (and not thinking her chaotic, party house student gaff was an appropriate place to bring her, also that none of us were equipped to deal with this properly for her) and her parents who were terribly middle class were like ‘hmm I think it’s a bit odd you came so late at night’ (we arrived at maybe 10 or 11pm) in a real ‘what will the neighbours say’ attitude - they had ZERO warmth or concern and I nearly put her in the car and drove back again. I stayed overnight and was shoved off anw the next morning and heard she tried again shortly after (she survived).

She said in her OP she rang the school as well as letting the police know.

Did you let the school know?

Because it’ll probably happen again and she’ll be just as vulnerable next time.

Very odd and depressing reaction from the mum. You did the right thing though and I bet that girl felt very grateful that you walked her home after she had a scary incident.

It's a sad an uncomfortable fact that some people are just terrible parents. They'd tell you they love their kids, but they can't possibly love them like you and I love ours when they don't even give a shit about them.

Also, a 25+min walk home from school alone at 10 yrs old? I know many are capable and many have no choice. But it's not ideal is it, as this proves.

Well done for stepping in and doing your best for her op.

Don't take any notice of people like this OP, there are always perfect posters on threads like this who can apparently think and act completely logically and rationally in any situation no matter how scary or panicky, and then like to belittle others for not responding in a completely textbook way. You absolutely did the right thing, and the girl's mum sounds bloody awful.

Yes, you did well. Next time you know to have even stronger faith in your instincts and call 999. I still would return a child to school rather than home, especially as it was nearer, schools have protocols for these sort of issues.

Was it hot? The baseball hat sounds like wafting cool air in, perhaps?

💯

You were so so right to call the school and the police. And right to help the little girl obviously. I've also made a mental note to go back to the school if in this situation as I would probably have taken the girl home also otherwise.

We had a little spate where I live of a two men following school girls slowly in their car (large black thing with tinted windows). The word went around fast (with a photo of the reg one of the girls took) on our local community facebook page as well which meant that a very great many people were on the look out and the police caught up with these men. I don't know what has happened since then (it was only a few months ago) but there was a real sense of the community looking out for each other.

The girl's mum is a disgrace IMO.

I don't get the impression that OP did think they were trying to kidnap her, just that she had herself seen the car (I don't think there was any van involved?) full of men, so was on the alert.

@BottomWibblyWob wow the mother clearly doesn’t worker or bother with her child . If the child does “attention seek “ I think we know why . To get attention and Cara she craves .
It’s disgusting behaviour from the mum .
I bet the same child will
be out in a positions today and tomorow and the next day all over again .
You know the parent won’t walk the child to school or back .
Parents like you this really should have the kids taken from them .

Can you speak sw see if they can chat to the mum around child safety and it’s her responsibility to keep her safe . Maybe then she will be forced to step up a little.

To be fair they might be completely innocent.

Awful of her mother. Well done for looking out for her and reporting to school and police. I hope they both follow up with it.

Better actions were available. Now you'd rather she doesn't react in the best way if she sees the van again tomorrow. That's... odd.

Thank goodness for you being there @BottomWibblyWob .
The girl's mum sounds awful. I hope the police follow this up.