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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My son has runaway

347 replies

Wario54 · 11/11/2025 18:51

My son has runaway from home. We had an argument this morning because he didn't want to go to school and he stormed out.

He is 10 (almost 11). The school called me and told me he hadn't arrived. I've tried calling and texting him but had no reply. I've called the police and they are out searching for him. His Dad and sister are currently driving round the area (and friends houses etc) in the hope of spotting him. I'm going out of my mind with worry 😭 he's never done this before.

OP posts:
confusedlady10 · 11/11/2025 22:12

Morningsleepin · 11/11/2025 19:29

I walk to school from the age of four and my dd from the age of five.

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That's crazy.

BoudiccaRuled · 11/11/2025 22:30

Wario54 · 11/11/2025 20:40

He walked in, immediately said sorry and I gave him a huge hug. Told him that I love him and we'll talk about what happened, tomorrow when the dust has settled. He's just having his tea now whilst we wait for the police to arrive

I put a message on the class WhatsApp group and another parent (of a boy in his class) saw it. She didn't know about my ds being missing until then. Her son had been behaving oddly all evening and she put two and two together and asked him (her son) what was going on and if he knew where (ds) was... He then confessed that Ds was upstairs hiding in his bedroom! He'd be hiding there since school ended. He told his friend that he'd stay at his tonight and go home tomorrow when "everyone would be less angry" - 10 year olds logic for you..🙄

He said he was just hanging about in town before that.

It's great he has mates on his side!
Fuck a doodle doo, though 😅

flowersandmusic · 11/11/2025 22:37

Cliveatnight · 11/11/2025 21:59

He needs a good talking to, not a bloody hug. At 10 he is old enough to understand that people would be worried and looking for him. What a waste of police time too.

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Are you having a laugh? Seriously with your logic the poor soul would never come home. Give your head a wobble!

LeopardPants · 11/11/2025 22:47

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 21:09

A troll? Because I asked why she wasn’t walking him to school at 10? I think you need to get more information about what a ‘troll’ means. Secondly I said it once he was found. Doesn’t make me a ‘nasty bitch’ at all. He’s 10. Anything could happen we don’t live in a ‘safe’ world anymore like 20+yrs ago. There is more ‘nasty bitch’s’ out there trust me lol

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Interested to hear how exactly the world was “safe” 20 years ago? What made it safe? How is this different to overall crime rates reducing?

MummaMummaMumma · 11/11/2025 22:50

Really happy to hear he's safe!
How terrifying for you all x

Mumwithbaggage · 11/11/2025 22:54

So glad he's safe. Perfectly normal to walk to school at 10 for goodness sake! Exactly the right thing to tell him you love him and give him a hug. Hope you sleep well OP.

Some people on here are very narrow minded and judgemental. I say this as a mum of 4 lovely young adults who has been through lots of different scenarios that people on here with no experience still feel free to comment negatively on. Give him an extra hug tonight - I'm sure you will x

Tigerbalmshark · 11/11/2025 22:59

confusedlady10 · 11/11/2025 22:12

That's crazy.

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Depends on where you live - perfectly normal in many european countries.

Nanny0gg · 11/11/2025 23:10

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 20:47

Or what? Lol

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Ok. I'll bite

Year 6 is used to a large degree, as a preparation for Year 7 and the move up to secondary

If children have to then start getting themselves to school and getting buses, it makes sense to let them walk to their familiar primary school to give them some independence

LBFseBrom · 11/11/2025 23:15

Thank goodness! I am so relieved for you, Wario54.

All will be well. You'll all sleep tonight.

Tigerbalmshark · 11/11/2025 23:17

Nanny0gg · 11/11/2025 23:10

Ok. I'll bite

Year 6 is used to a large degree, as a preparation for Year 7 and the move up to secondary

If children have to then start getting themselves to school and getting buses, it makes sense to let them walk to their familiar primary school to give them some independence

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I suspect that poster will still be driving her kids to and from school when they are doing A levels. Possibly university too…

Cliveatnight · 11/11/2025 23:22

flowersandmusic · 11/11/2025 22:37

Are you having a laugh? Seriously with your logic the poor soul would never come home. Give your head a wobble!

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With my logic, the little brat shouldn’t have “run away” just because he wasnt getting his own way and he should be told that in no uncertain terms.

Ratafia · 11/11/2025 23:24

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 20:55

That’s a crazy statement ‘would be unusual if a child walked home with a parent’ at the age of 10? No. That’s an odd thing to say 🤣 it’s not unusual at all. Maybe 30yrs ago when you and all these other mummy’s were at school it was normal. The world isn’t what it used to be lol

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You do realise, don't you, that a high proportion of 11 year olds walk, cycle or commute to school on their own, not least because they have younger siblings and their parents can't be in two places at once? What's the magical difference between a 10 year old and an 11 year old?

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 23:27

Nanny0gg · 11/11/2025 23:10

Ok. I'll bite

Year 6 is used to a large degree, as a preparation for Year 7 and the move up to secondary

If children have to then start getting themselves to school and getting buses, it makes sense to let them walk to their familiar primary school to give them some independence

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‘ill bite’ 🤣🤣 I’m literally shaking in my boots

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 23:29

Ratafia · 11/11/2025 23:24

You do realise, don't you, that a high proportion of 11 year olds walk, cycle or commute to school on their own, not least because they have younger siblings and their parents can't be in two places at once? What's the magical difference between a 10 year old and an 11 year old?

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Who said anything about a 11year old? Lol I’m talking about the 10year old. I said nothing about the boy being 11

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 23:29

Tigerbalmshark · 11/11/2025 23:17

I suspect that poster will still be driving her kids to and from school when they are doing A levels. Possibly university too…

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Omg yeah Probably !!

Rachie1973 · 11/11/2025 23:34

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 20:55

That’s a crazy statement ‘would be unusual if a child walked home with a parent’ at the age of 10? No. That’s an odd thing to say 🤣 it’s not unusual at all. Maybe 30yrs ago when you and all these other mummy’s were at school it was normal. The world isn’t what it used to be lol

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Firstly, I’m so pleased he’s home OP xxx

secondly, in our school children are actively encouraged to travel to and from school by foot or bike as they reach Year 6. Partly to encourage fitness, partly to prepare the, for starting Yr 7.

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 23:37

Rachie1973 · 11/11/2025 23:34

Firstly, I’m so pleased he’s home OP xxx

secondly, in our school children are actively encouraged to travel to and from school by foot or bike as they reach Year 6. Partly to encourage fitness, partly to prepare the, for starting Yr 7.

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Good to know

Sherzingaaaaa · 11/11/2025 23:58

I walked to nursery on my own aged 3. Never did me any harm

Ratafia · 12/11/2025 00:11

bosslady89 · 11/11/2025 21:41

no I was being a ‘smug bitch ‘ to you calling me a melt. lol I asked a question on a forum. Not everyone will have the same opinion. Get a grip ffs. I said what I said to OP AFTER he was found. Just because I don’t agree with a child walking to & from school at that age doesn’t make me a smug bitch lol. Anyway off to bed as some people have to be up for work in the morning and take the kids to school. 🙃

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You really think it was so much safer for children to be out and about 20 years ago? If you were around then, were you paying any attention at all to the news?

I suspect you think that going further back, children were safe everywhere. Ah, those happy days when that nice Mr Brady and Miss Hindley were happy to give children lifts ...

Givenupshopping · 12/11/2025 00:13

I'm so pleased for you that he's home safe and sound OP. It's horrible when kids do things like this, and then when they eventually appear and you know they're safe, you don't know whether you want to beat them to a pulp for worrying you so much, or whether to hug them and never let them go, lol. You must be so relieved that his plan to wait to come home until tomorrow didn't work, thank goodness the other child's Mum saw your message.

frumpy84 · 12/11/2025 00:29

@TeddySchnauzer
@bosslady89
Probably the same person.
Did you have fun trolling a mother whilst she was experiencing one of the most stressful things a parent can experience?

bosslady89 · 12/11/2025 00:33

frumpy84 · 12/11/2025 00:29

@TeddySchnauzer
@bosslady89
Probably the same person.
Did you have fun trolling a mother whilst she was experiencing one of the most stressful things a parent can experience?

No idea who teddy is tbh lol but glad they agree 🙃
I didn’t troll a mother at all .. I asked a question about a child walking to school on their own. And then everyone decided to comment on my comment because they didn’t agree with it 🥰

bosslady89 · 12/11/2025 00:35

frumpy84 · 12/11/2025 00:29

@TeddySchnauzer
@bosslady89
Probably the same person.
Did you have fun trolling a mother whilst she was experiencing one of the most stressful things a parent can experience?

Ur the 2nd person to say im a ‘troll’ 🤣🤣 and as I said previously I think you need more education on what a ‘troll’ means.

Luckystar67 · 12/11/2025 01:18

Cliveatnight · 11/11/2025 21:59

He needs a good talking to, not a bloody hug. At 10 he is old enough to understand that people would be worried and looking for him. What a waste of police time too.

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Exactly!

LemonLeaves · 12/11/2025 06:13

I've reported the spam adverts. Not sure how shitty a firm needs to be that they think it's appropriate to advertise on a thread about a missing child.

OP - glad he's been found, and hope you're OK.