To pick my Daughter up early and be really angry with her?

[Canshopwillshop]

My DD is 13 and has started going out and about in our local market town to meet a group of friends. I am ok with this generally as long as I know roughly where she is and can contact her if needed. However today I texted her at 1pm to ask her something and got no reply. Another txt 10 mins later - no reply. I then tried to phone her and she didn’t pick up - tried for about half an hour to make contact, all the time getting more and more worried. In the end I drove to where I thought she’d be and found her with her friends. I made her come home with me (half an hour earlier than we’d agreed) and I have had a real go at her about worrying me unnecessarily and keeping in touch etc.

The thing is she is normally glued to her bloody phone and uses it to tell me what time she needs picking up, asks for extra time etc etc but when I need to get hold of her she doesn’t pick up . She said she’d put her phone in her friend’s bag and didn’t hear it ringing. She’s now sulking in her room. Did I over-react?

I honestly don't think that you're being unreasonable here. At 13 they need to learn that you need to be in contact (granted not constant contact) but be at least responsible enough, while she is out, to check her phone which I'm assuming she would usually do at home anyway.
Next time she will think back on this and check her phone.
Well done you for sticking for your guns and bringing her home and laying down the law.

Oh dear - hopefully a solid group of friends and an eye roll will be enough to make them forget it.

She was where she said she would be with friends so massive overaction due to anxiety or whatever was going on.

Time to pop in and apologise.

My kids are 17, 15 and 13. We all have an app on our phones, where's my droid. They can see where I am and I can see where they are. It is also fantastic for finding a phone when my 3yo DNs have been round 😁.

Nope!!You didn't overreact at all!!!
Either she responds,checks in or keeps in touch when she is gone....Or no leaving the house!!
You're doing a great job!💝