Playdate DCs haven't been picked up. Should I drop them off?

[Recordmirror]

So a mum from my DCs school asked me to have her two DCs today as her two are the same age/in the same class as my two youngest.
The DCs have been here a couple of times before but usually I arrange this with their dad and he picks them up.
But he is away on business and so their mum asked me to take them today as a favour whilst she is in work.

I've had them since 9 this morning. She was supposed to pick them up at 6:30. I called her at 7 and 7:30 and 8 and 8:15 but she's not replying. I have text her a number of times and nothing.

My DCs should be in bed. Her eldest isn't bothered but her youngest is getting upset saying that she should be in bed. I haven't told them that their mum should have picked them up by now.

Should I go round to theirs? I don't want to worry the DCs if their mum isn't there when we get there. But I would like to know where she is. So would I be unreasonable to go round there?

I hope the children get some sleep, and as hard as it will be that you do too Record

Wow. The mystery deepens. And no response from Dad either?
At least the police have the resources to make enquiries and get answers that we, the general public, don't.
Try and get some sleep, if you can.

I wonder if they were able to find out whether the mother was at work at all today.

An hour of no contact? Really?? Is that standard?

clam I was just thinking that and then I realised there's no way I'd be sleeping under those circumstances. Pacing maybe. Must be awful for op waiting to hear.

NotMyNn I get that this thread is probably emotive for you but there's really no need to be so rude. Maybe set an example and show some of the compassion you are encouraging OP to show her friend....

Oh no. Hoping they find her soon. Has she got a car? Have they found that?

Oh no I was really hoping she'd got locked in at work and couldn't find anyone to get her out.

So sorry record. Could you maybe get your friend on standby to come and sit with you if you're going to be sat by yourself worrying all night? Or get her to drop round a takeaway/chocolate for you if you can't go to bed? If your bed is taken up by 2 little children?
You've done the right thing in phoning and getting help.

Fingers crossed it turns out office was locked and in darkness when the police checked it, but she's been trapped in the toilet all night, having left her swipe card and phone at her desk and other worker assumed she went home and she's found at 8am.

Yes, try and get some sleep, Record. Whatever's happened, the children are best staying sleeping with you til morning, when hopefully you'll be able to tell them that mum's waiting at home for them. Any Facebook detective work should be left to the police. You've done everything you can do.

What actually happens if a childminder or nursery phones social services due to non pick up? Eg my daughter goes to nursery. If I get stuck in a really awful traffic jam, my phone is dead and I can't get in touch, I get there say an hour and a half after closing time, and SS have been called...what then?

I have no experience or knowledge of SS at all but I've always kind of wondered this.

I don't think an hour of no contact warrants ringing SS personally. I'd be quite worried sending my kids to you Clara if that were the case. Surely there are emergency numbers on file?

theangelofnitshillroad DS's nursery says 20 mins with no prior notice or inability to contact NOK will result in SS being called! I found it quite shocking but understand why, I guess.

As a childminder, I would ring social services after an hour of no contact.

That seems a bit extreme. Last summer I locked my phone and the baby in my car at the doctors surgery and the only number I know off the top of my head was my mums. DP (who was my emergency contact) was in a meeting and didn't answer. Eventually the police came out and had to smash the window because it was so hot but it was unfortunately over an hour (just) of no contact with my childminder...

Fingers firmly crossed here for a positive outcome. Well done for getting all the kids settled OP. I'd go to bed if I were you, to at least rest if you can't sleep; presumably the police will call if there is any news and the kids might be up in the night seeing as they're not in their usual routine.

OP you are doing an amazing job in very difficult and worrying circumstances. Hoping for a good outcome.

If she hasn't been at work all day (did the police say?), then she's been missing for much longer than 5 hours and could be anywhere.

Hope she's not in a dire mental state - I don't suppose you know her well enough to have any inkling as to whether she'd been struggling recently.

Just to add the childminder was with my toddler at home!

Schools and childminders have to follow rules about safeguarding if a child isnt picked up within a certain time. So yes, calling SS an hour after pick up when neither parent (or any other emergency number) is contactable, would be standard.

Where on earth is she?

Poor dc. Hope you hear something soon.

No news?

Goodness, how worrying.

Clearly something Has happened to the mum. Let's hope it's nothing too serious and she turns up safe and sound.

You're handling it really well OP, get some sleep now. There is nothing to be done by you till morning now and you'll be better able to handle whatever needs to be done after some kip.

You've been a star OP.

I must admit I would call the police again to get an update, and then go to bed a try to sleep.

Fingers crossed for good news soon.