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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Found this bloody weird note….

406 replies

Radicalpiloti · 20/08/2025 00:04

Bit of a strange one. I finally got around to emptying my son’s schoolbag and amongst the utter rubbish (including a Batman figurine he insists isn’t his!) there was an envelope tucked inside with just “For You” written on it.

Inside was a list of instructions. Things like:

  • “Don’t forget to lock the back door at night.”
  • “Children should never sit on cold floors.”
  • “The blue cup is for milk, not juice.”
  • “Be careful who you trust with secrets.”

I asked DC where it came from and he just shrugged and said, dunno. Asked on my parent friends WhatsApp and they had no idea.

DH says I’m being dramatic and it’s probably nothing, but I feel really weird about it

i don’t even know what I’m asking but, wtf!

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 20/08/2025 13:50

Nozache · 20/08/2025 13:34

Why would it have “For You” written on it if it were an English exercise or whatever?

'Give your partner the words so they can make a sentence with them'.

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 20/08/2025 13:54

It sounds to me like a list of sentences a teacher had drafted, for children to identify which ones were instructions using an imperative verb. It probably just got into his bag by accident, as a piece of scrap paper.

LatteLady · 20/08/2025 13:58

Actually this sounds a bit like Michael Rosen poetry prompts. Taking comments that your parents or other parents make and up a poem... in fact if I close my eyes I can imagine him reciting it.

watchingplanesicantafford · 20/08/2025 14:04

Sounds like some English work or something similar from school that's made its way into his bag

Alliod40 · 20/08/2025 14:06

No seriously you're nuts,homework it sounds like,learning lines for pronunciation is most likely what it is,why are you making it a bloody drama fgs..No wonder some kids are in therapy

Tiffypops · 20/08/2025 14:08

Mine are usually like.... The gentle rain in Gorky Park is enchanting when the full Moon is high.
Or,
Beware monkey with chocolate hidden in nappy.
Lol

Jollyhockeystickss · 20/08/2025 14:10

If he didnt write it then an adult did and that adult has access to his bag either at home or school so is it older sibling? The fact that hes annoyed means he knows something about it....worst case scenario hes being groomed and someone is trying to frighten him...i would say to him if he doesnt tell you youre going down the school he could be being bullied by older kids

tartyflette · 20/08/2025 14:18

@JackGrealishsBobbySocks
Nice one!

Johna69 · 20/08/2025 14:19

Radicalpiloti · 20/08/2025 00:04

Bit of a strange one. I finally got around to emptying my son’s schoolbag and amongst the utter rubbish (including a Batman figurine he insists isn’t his!) there was an envelope tucked inside with just “For You” written on it.

Inside was a list of instructions. Things like:

  • “Don’t forget to lock the back door at night.”
  • “Children should never sit on cold floors.”
  • “The blue cup is for milk, not juice.”
  • “Be careful who you trust with secrets.”

I asked DC where it came from and he just shrugged and said, dunno. Asked on my parent friends WhatsApp and they had no idea.

DH says I’m being dramatic and it’s probably nothing, but I feel really weird about it

i don’t even know what I’m asking but, wtf!

That is certainly suspicious,people on here saying forget it,just be wary

Johna69 · 20/08/2025 14:25

That is certainly suspicious,people on here saying forget it,just be wary

Coffeetime25 · 20/08/2025 14:30

sounds like a scene from a horror movie creepy was it torn from a book or something

Blondiney · 20/08/2025 14:34

It's like the start of a Sophie Hannah book 😱

Happyjoyjoy · 20/08/2025 14:36

Maybe his spelling words used to make these sentences at school...

Waterweight · 20/08/2025 14:37

WellThisIsFranklyDreadful · 20/08/2025 00:53

Why are you being so dramatic about this? Someone probably just mixed bags up and put it in the wrong one or your son picked it up by mistake. Stop being such a drama llama!

This. Is it possible another child is house sitting/looking after someone & this message was supposed to be for them ?

Could explain the secrets bit. You don't want them telling other young kids theirs a house empty ect.

Ask the teacher if they know about it just incase it was meant for another child

Aspidistree · 20/08/2025 14:43

The blue cup is quite specific. It sounds like he wrote it and doesn't want to admit to it or have to explain it. I wouldn't worry about it and I also wouldn't worry about him lying about it, if that is what he is doing. He is allowed a bit of privacy.

DBD1975 · 20/08/2025 14:56

OP here is my advice, rip up the note, throw it away and don't give it a second thought.
Trust me the outcome will be the same whether you do this or spend the next 6 months thinking about nothing else.
Some things are not worth your time and energy, this is one of them.

expresslylee · 20/08/2025 15:03

He could be being groomed - the adult will go through various stages, getting child's trust, getting child to think they can only trust the other adult, creating problems between child and parent, talking to child at length to find out personal stuff etc.

How your DC has reacted would freak me out a bit too, though based only on my DC, as at 10 if someone had put things in my DC's bag my DC would want to get to the bottom of it and find out who and why, they would be more bothered by it than you are. I would find it very worrying if DC clammed up.

So it might be nothing, but I think you should trust your feelings on this. Have you ever spoken to your DC about things like grooming and the pants rule and things like that? There are some good books for kids about it, for parents to read with kids. If it is grooming, it could be anyone - anyone you know, sadly, or a stranger depending on whether this is possible for your DC. Telling your DC in a child appropriate way about grooming and about how if anything at all happens similar with your DC your DC does not need to worry and can tell you everything, at any time, no matter what your DC has already done, and you can deal with it, and it will be okay, might be a good start.

Going back to grooming, there is info on the internet but things I have read about before involve a process, so after getting a child's trust and putting a wedge between child and parent, over a period of time, all very innocent and reassuring at first, they then do things like showing pictures of children being abused to normalise it, progressing to abuse but making the child feel it is their responsibility, that the adult was only doing what the child wanted, gaslighting, manipulating both by promises and/or threats to get child to say nothing for as long as possible.

Hope it isn't that, obviously. But a pretty damn weird note, I agree, in the context of your DC not wanting to talk about it.

Mydadsbirthday · 20/08/2025 15:09

OP - could it be mnemonics?

Fenellasbum · 20/08/2025 15:22

I'd ask 10yo again, as casually as you can.

Ask him has anyone told him not to sit on cold floors? Ask him why a child would have to lock the back door - that is the job of a parent? And has he seen blue cups anywhere? I'd just say to him it's quite bizarre and you are wondering how it got there and who would write such a strange list.

Remind him that there is nothing he needs to keep secret from you under any circumstances at all. Ever.

If still nothing, then take a photo or keep it in an envelope and forget about it.

user1484999658 · 20/08/2025 15:41

Id take it up to the school and ask. Its defo a strange one and doesn't really seem like something a child would write. With everything happening these days about kids online and being set challenges that get worse and worse, some start simple and innocent enough like this and eventually go on to say things like "unlock the door at 1am" Take it up to the school and demand answers . Would make me suspicious of every member of staff!

DustyMaiden · 20/08/2025 15:50

It looks like examples of sentence structure. Did someone do his homework for him?

Weekmindedfool · 20/08/2025 15:56

expresslylee · 20/08/2025 15:03

He could be being groomed - the adult will go through various stages, getting child's trust, getting child to think they can only trust the other adult, creating problems between child and parent, talking to child at length to find out personal stuff etc.

How your DC has reacted would freak me out a bit too, though based only on my DC, as at 10 if someone had put things in my DC's bag my DC would want to get to the bottom of it and find out who and why, they would be more bothered by it than you are. I would find it very worrying if DC clammed up.

So it might be nothing, but I think you should trust your feelings on this. Have you ever spoken to your DC about things like grooming and the pants rule and things like that? There are some good books for kids about it, for parents to read with kids. If it is grooming, it could be anyone - anyone you know, sadly, or a stranger depending on whether this is possible for your DC. Telling your DC in a child appropriate way about grooming and about how if anything at all happens similar with your DC your DC does not need to worry and can tell you everything, at any time, no matter what your DC has already done, and you can deal with it, and it will be okay, might be a good start.

Going back to grooming, there is info on the internet but things I have read about before involve a process, so after getting a child's trust and putting a wedge between child and parent, over a period of time, all very innocent and reassuring at first, they then do things like showing pictures of children being abused to normalise it, progressing to abuse but making the child feel it is their responsibility, that the adult was only doing what the child wanted, gaslighting, manipulating both by promises and/or threats to get child to say nothing for as long as possible.

Hope it isn't that, obviously. But a pretty damn weird note, I agree, in the context of your DC not wanting to talk about it.

Ffs. 🙄

PandoraSocks · 20/08/2025 16:07

This reminds me a bit of the Birdie Friend thread...

TheMadGardener · 20/08/2025 16:20

Primary school teacher here. A LOT of the 10 and 11 year olds I know are obsessed with discussing the Five Nights At Freddy's game, even the ones who aren't allowed to play it at home. All that note sounds to me strongly like FNAF references. The blue cup and the back door especially. I overhear endless bits of conversations where Y5 and Y6 are giving each other gaming advice - "Joe says he's beaten level 43, you go in through the back door, the blue cup is on the table but don't touch it" etc, etc.

I'm 99% sure he's been taking part in gaming chat with his mates.

See below for reference to blue cup.

https://ultra-custom-night-character-ideas.fandom.com/wiki/Blue_Cup

Blue Cup

The Blue Cup is a cup that appears on the west blind spot of your office in Five Nights at Freddy's. It is apparently a plastic blue cup with a white top and bendy straw. The blue cup will appear in the desk at the other end of the office. When this ha...

https://ultra-custom-night-character-ideas.fandom.com/wiki/Blue_Cup

Momstermash94 · 20/08/2025 16:28

TheMadGardener · 20/08/2025 16:20

Primary school teacher here. A LOT of the 10 and 11 year olds I know are obsessed with discussing the Five Nights At Freddy's game, even the ones who aren't allowed to play it at home. All that note sounds to me strongly like FNAF references. The blue cup and the back door especially. I overhear endless bits of conversations where Y5 and Y6 are giving each other gaming advice - "Joe says he's beaten level 43, you go in through the back door, the blue cup is on the table but don't touch it" etc, etc.

I'm 99% sure he's been taking part in gaming chat with his mates.

See below for reference to blue cup.

https://ultra-custom-night-character-ideas.fandom.com/wiki/Blue_Cup

Oohh now this one makes sense and explains why he got defensive when questioned about it if he isnt allowed to play it!