AIBU to worry excessively about child safety while on holiday?

[Mummasaurus91]

This is a bit rogue.

I’m on holiday at the moment. I have kids and since having them, I feel like I’m more aware about life than I used to be. A few years ago we were abroad and visiting a couple of major European cities, it really put me on edge about my DC getting snatched.

Few days ago we were at a zoo. Terrible I know, but anyone wandering around aimlessly without children really triggered me again. If I saw the same faces looking at us more than twice I was on edge. Today, a man was staring at me/my family for quite a while as we made our way around a tourist attraction and then disappeared. Tonight, I’ve seen a bloody insta post from a girl that talks about how she almost got human trafficked.

AIBU or just completely bat shit that I’m now freaking out at the highly unlikely scenario of my kids being taken? This isn’t normal is it? Or is it normal to be hyper vigilant once you’re a parent? Currently the middle of the night where I am and I can’t sleep at all as my brain just won’t switch off!

This is exactly how I am and I spoke to someone before who took hee children abroad as a solo parent and she said the worry was insane

I personally dont feel this way and wouldn't say this is normal. The chance of your kids being kidnapped is so vanishingly small it is not okay that the fear of this is consuming you. I would speak to someone about it.

No it is not normal

Not normal if you travel in what is considered safe EU countries.

You're being batshit but I totally get it. Where bombarded through the news and social media of all these bad things that happen in the world and its easy to lose perspective of how uncommon this stuff actually is.

This is what logic tells me but this girl was in the middle of Paris and her Embassy had to put her on the first flight home for her protection.

Surely they're just as likely to be kidnapped in the UK as in most places in the EU?

I think this is the problem to be honest. Everywhere you look at the moment it’s just horrific stories. Might be time to delete social media etc I think!

Maybe read a book instead of doom scrolling. Much healthier.

Might be a good idea. I get like this, but I try and temper it with looking at the actual facts. Finding out statistics on how many people, why, etc. It's just how my brain works but weirdly - it can help!

SM? Don't trust everything put on the internet.

This is very true! Thank you

Sorry, your fear is not normal. Obviously take sensible precautions as you would here but the likelihood of it happening is absolutely tiny. Assuming you’re visiting stable, safe countries, it’s no more likely to happen there than it is here. Just keep your eye on them, as parents do.

No, I don't worry like that.

I can’t find any evidence of the Paris case you’re talking about. Must be usual social media BS

Kidnapping does happen; but it’s no more likely to happen than in the UK. Statistically the biggest risk on holiday is drowning. The thing is you feel like you can control that. Therapy will massively help with this. I am still an anxious person with high control needs but I’m slowly making some progress with support.

I clearly need to just get back to reading Bridgerton! And get therapy. Thanks everyone

The way social media algorithms work is they feed you more of what you are interested in. By clicking that human trafficking story you’ve guaranteed that more will appear in your feed. So you’re thinking this threat is real and increasing while I’m seeing puppies and kittens because that’s what I click on.

You need to get a handle on this anxiety before your children hit the teenage years because they need to gradually become independent. DD20 has a couple of friends with overprotective anxious mums and it’s a bit of a nightmare for them being peppered with text messages constantly on a night out or being asked to come home because the mum can’t sleep due to worry.