My son has runaway

[Wario54]

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.

I'm sorry if this is really obvious, but have you called any of his friends? If he is on snapchat they might be able to find him? Not suggesting a 10/11 year old should have snapchat, before anyone blasts me, but plenty do and in this case it could be helpful.

@rainbowunicornNobody is victim blaming anyone, you’re twisting my words to fit your own narrative! OP never said what time the school called her but the impression I got was that she’s only found out this afternoon. Maybe I’m wrong about that part? However that’s by the by. I merely asked a question to try work out if he usually has a group he walks with. That’s all! This pile-on you’re attempting to launch here is ludicrous!

I am gobsmacked at the police inaction for several hours, given the child's age and the fact it gets dark early - what were they thinking delaying so many hours?

The police didn't start looking until after school?? Fucking hell, that needs escalated when this is over.

Could there be the possibility that he's actually hiding in the school? He obviously didn't go to class but maybe impulsively decided to hide away in a building he's familiar with.

OP please know he will be back as this is just an argument. He will probably be in a local woods or park. He will be getting cold soon and start moving. My sister did this age 10 and she took a bit of food with her. But she started moving when she got cold and scared. The fact it's because of an argument should help you feel more positive . He will be absolutely fine. My sister , in later life travelled the world. He may be a live wire and finding his feet at young age.

Share to the local town community Facebook group. If there's a parent school Facebook group and class WhatsApp group, then share to these too. Hopefully, the police will find him.

When my son was at Junior school, they were allowed to walk to/from school from Year 5, as long as the school had parental permission. It's not unusual by any standards. This young lad is nearly 11 years old and will be starting Year 7 in September 2026. That's less than a year away.

I'm shocked that the police waited to search for him until he didn't turn up after the end of school day, he's 10 not a teenager.

I hope he turns up soon, OP.

When you text him, let him know that you're not angry with him. Make it as easy for him as possible to come home.

He'll be worried that he's in trouble, feeling embarrassed/ashamed. Like he's made the worst possible mistake, that he's a bad person. He might still be angry with you for the fight this morning and blaming you for how he's feeling now.

Reassure him that it's all ok, you love him and that nothing's happened that can't be fixed. Remind him about whatever he likes to do at home. You can't wait to play fifa with him. You'll make him a hot chocolate and watch a Minecraft streamer with him. Etc

Let his friends know you're not angry with him. So they can pass on the same message

I’m so sorry OP, I can only imagine how worried you and your family must feel. I really hope he has gone to a friend’s or a warm shop to hide in and will be found soon. Is there any chance he could have gone on public transport somewhere?

This is an extreme viewpoint. My DD cycled to school a mile away from the age of 10. It's not healthy for a 10 yo to never leave their parents' sight in my opinion.

I'm so sorry, OP. I hope he is safe with a friend and he comes home very soon.

Do any of his friends have social media? Could you ask the parents on the school WhatsApp groups to check their kids phones and also put out messages on their kids social media apps to spread the word around.

Also put it on other social media not just FB as less young people use that now, the local Nextdoor forum is another place to post.

Go to local supermarkets/bus station/train station with a picture and ask if they have seen him and ask them to check their CCTV footage for him.

I would hope the Police would be knocking door to door near the local shops/park/school with a picture to see if anyone has seen him, and getting people to check garages and sheds just in case he is hiding somewhere scared he will be in trouble if he comes home.

You must be beside yourself OP, I really hope you get some news soon x

Good advice

Could the people arguing about kids walking to/ from school and Denmark start their own separate thread please? It’s hugely inappropriate to be derailing a thread like this.

Another one coming in to say it would be very odd to see yr 5/6 kids being walked to school by their parents

I suggest you brush up on your reading comprehension! I asked a question. That’s it. To try and work out what his usual routine is.
You on the other hand are breaking MN talk guidelines by throwing personal attacks at someone you don’t know, on a thread about a missing child, in order to ‘join in’. How embarrassing!

Maybe go back and read the OPs updates. It will stop you from looking daft. Your 2 questions complete with the 12 question marks and the comment that your child never leaves your sight is what people are getting annoyed about. Why the need for 12 question marks? That is what is meant by excessive punctuation. It comes across very badly.

I think it's quite important that the OP isn't made to feel guilty about her child walking to school alone. A lot of us have tried to assure her that this is quite normal in year 6.

They really do. My just 11 year old was commuting to secondary in London for 90 minutes each way with 2 different trains. In Y6 they would meet me at station after school that needed a tube and a walk. She has a smartphone with tracker and an Airtag.

It's very rare in London or where I live in the countryside for any child over 10 to be with parents going to and from school - and they all have to take train or bus to get to the nearest one.

The OP has done absolutely nothing wrong or unusual and you are very unfair insinuating that she has!

Hope he turns up soon OP!

Bloody hell fire op, I can’t imagine what you are going through right now. I have everything crossed your Ds is found soon.

Definitely worth putting a msg on the class WhatsApp page incase he reaches out to friends.
My son (year 6) has been walking to and from school on his own for the last 2 years, a similar 10 minutes walk.
His primary school allow all children in year 5&6 to walk home alone with parental permission and most do so so it’s perfectly normal where I live.
These children are heading off to secondary schools all over the city next year so it would be very odd to insist on picking them up now. My 10 year old would definitely know not to go off with strangers etc and statistically most children are harmed by people they know.
OP I really hope he turns up soon, I think most supermarkets etc would notice a lone child now so my guess would be he’s hiding out with friends or park type area.

Nobody's buying the faux outrage or retconned innocence, Teddy. Away from the thread and back under your bridge now.

Oh, so you were only trying to help?

"Why was he walking to school on his own at that age in these times we live in??????? My 10yr old doesn’t leave my sight. And more to the point, why on earth didn't the school call as soon as it was clear he hadn’t arrived???? That’s even worse"

Yes, I can see that you "merely asked a question". Reading the OPs post properly would have been a better start. 🙄

Was this also meant to be helpful?
"Don’t be ridiculous that’s way too young unless it’s literally on their same street. A 10yr old wouldn’t know what to do if approached by a predator and certainly couldn’t run fast enough to escape an adult with ill intent"

Don't bother with your 'poor me' victim post.
Vile.

This makes me feel sick.

He’s most likely hiding and trying to give you a scare. Also, a child of the same age in my daughter’s class went missing fairly recently. He’d run off and turned up at his mates house and the mates daft mother hadn’t checked with him that his mum knew where he was. So I’d be messaging all friends’ parents and get them helping etc.

OP have you left your house at all today? My younger sister ran away when she was a teen and the first thing the police did when they (eventually) came was search the house because they said in a lot of cases the child is hiding at home. She wasn’t, she was at a friends, but it’s worth a double check!

Are there any clubs he goes to for hobbies he might be at? Cinema?
I'm thinking of you 💐