Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To worry when 10yr DD went for an early run alone

574 replies

BelleBoyd · 27/07/2020 08:02

My DD woke me early this morning saying she was going for a run and left. She kept to our road and was back in half hour. Is this ok? Just seems unusual behaviour? She hasn’t done this before and doesn’t run usually as a sport.

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 27/07/2020 08:08

Very odd. My 10 year old would never do this. I wouldn't be freaked if my 12 yo said he wanted to 'train for x' and started doing it. Did you go too? Did you watch her?

MsF1t · 27/07/2020 08:09

Depends where you live. Where I am, I wouldn't be happy to just let her head out, and would have had questions. If she really wanted a run, I would go with her. Even in the countryside though, there are dangers I wouldn't be totally happy with though. Could she have been meeting someone?

ItStartedWithAKiss241 · 27/07/2020 08:10

That’s absurd! Unless you/DH run early AM times and she’s picked up on it?
I have a 10yo DD and I don’t think I’d have allowed it/would have gone with her/followed her....
I assume she’s home safe and sound? X

UsernameN0Tavailable · 27/07/2020 08:11

How early is early? Surely a 10 year old should be asking you rather than telling you what she's doing and just leaving the house. What did you say when she came to tell you?

Splitsunrise · 27/07/2020 08:11

I’d be thinking she was doing somewhere else, sorry OP... did you question it at the time?
She’s not worried about weight or anything is she?

justanotherneighinparadise · 27/07/2020 08:12

I don’t think I’d be happy about that, no.

Tinamou · 27/07/2020 08:14

I like running and have a 10yo and I'd be fine with this - although a bit surprised if it came completely out of the blue.

TheTrollFairy · 27/07/2020 08:16

Im confused why you didn’t stop your 10 year old going for a run alone? I have a 4yo so a while away but 10 seems too young to be out alone?

TinySleepThief · 27/07/2020 08:18

You let your 10 year old daughter go out for a run before approximately 7.30am on her own and your asking MN if that's ok? She's clearly not gone for a run... Hmm

AnyFucker · 27/07/2020 08:18

Seems very odd. The "run" sounds like an excuse she has been coached to give.

You sound very passive, you should be digging a whole lot deeper.

shemadeit · 27/07/2020 08:18

I’m more concerned by the fact that you didn’t try to stop her?

Jessbow · 27/07/2020 08:18

I might be wondering who she needed to meet, and why.

Had she perhaps borrowed something from a friend whose parent was annoyed, so she ran in back early?

I would wonder what she was up to if it was as random as you say

BelleBoyd · 27/07/2020 08:18

I was fast asleep and she said I’m going running and let me back in later. I said hang on wait a minute and was a bit in waking up mode..and then she was out the door. None of us are runners. DD is very sporty though and missing her various activities due to the pandemic. I would have gone to watch but I was asleep! I got up obs though and saw her running back down the street. Just thought it was strange out of the blue.

OP posts:
AdoptAdaptImprove · 27/07/2020 08:22

Is running usually something she does? Has she increased her exercise lately? I think in the back of my mind I’d be keeping an eye on food intake too, in case this is a sign of unhealthy issues about weight. It sounds dramatic, but if it’s very out of character then something has prompted it.

TinySleepThief · 27/07/2020 08:22

I was fast asleep and she said I’m going running and let me back in later. I said hang on wait a minute and was a bit in waking up mode..and then she was out the door.

I just don't understand why you think shes gone for a run, the fact she left so quickly shows she was being deceitful and I'm staggered she thinks this is acceptable behaviour. She is 10 years old, you're her parent she doesn't get to tell you what do do 'let me back in later'

BelleBoyd · 27/07/2020 08:22

She wasn’t meeting anyone, she was running up and down our street. It isn’t a worry she’s doing anything sinister just that it seemed an unusual thing to do suddenly. She goes to the corner shop occasionally on her own and is quite an independent capable girl.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 27/07/2020 08:25

Seems fine to me as you saw her running up and down the street

Hollyhead · 27/07/2020 08:25

I think you need to have a chat about planning it and asking permission in the future, but overall I'd encourage such a proactive, confident approach to fitness as long as you don't have any other concerns.

10 definitely old enough to be out on their own street alone as long as they know and understand safety rules.

hippohector · 27/07/2020 08:26

I was fast asleep and she said I’m going running and let me back in later. I said hang on wait a minute and was a bit in waking up mode..and then she was out the door

^ This is not ok op. What happened when she got back? Did you talk to her about it?

A 10 year old should not just decide she is going out, out of the blue, and then just disappear out the door.
You need to step up and get to the bottom of this as her parent.
Even if she did just go for a run and there is nothing else going on, she should not have the freedom to just up and go without prior warning. She is 10.

Pretenditsaplan · 27/07/2020 08:27

She was meeting someone and at 10 she shouldnt be leaving the house while your half asleep. What would of happened if she got run over while she was out if sight? She didnt tell yu what route she was supposedly running. If she really was out running she wouldnt object to a mobile with tracking on it so if she does go somewhere then you can see. But honestly i think its to early both in the morning and in age to be annoucing shes going out and not asking and waiting for permission. She should of had someone with her.

Seeline · 27/07/2020 08:28

On the face of it, a 10 year old out for half an hour in a generally safe area is OK. Many would be walking to and from school on their own in normal times.

However I would be extremely suspicious of going for a run if it's not something she normally does, and the early start (particularly the waking you up - that indicates prior planning, and a hope of taking you by surprise to curtail any questions).

Is she normally allowed out on her own for half an hour or so?

I think she was meeting someone. And I think you need to ask some questions, check her online activity etc.

MsTSwift · 27/07/2020 08:29

My 11 year old has done this too. Don’t see the problem - good for them

my2bundles · 27/07/2020 08:29

My 12 year knows to ask permission before he goes anywhere. That's where you have gone wrong.

Rhine · 27/07/2020 08:30

Still fast asleep at 7.30am OP, really? That’s late for most people on a weekday.

Seems a pretty lame excuse for not getting up to see what she was doing.

Snailsetssail · 27/07/2020 08:31

Where did she go? If she was just going 100m up and down your road directly outside the house then I would say this is fine. If she went round the block out of sight of the house then it’s not fine.