First, I must hold my hands up and say I have done something unprecedented in 12 years of parenting and in 5 kids - I actually forgot to pick up my child from an activity this evening [blush seems to sheepish an emoticon for this deep embarrassment]. There are reasons I forgot - going through a hard time but won't go into that now and its anyway no excuse.
I realised what had happened whilst in the middle of having my shopping checked out in Tesco. I left the shopping and went to a payphone ( mobile not charged) to call teh mother of the other girl dd goes to this activity with and with whom we rota. She was very gracious and just concerned that I was ok as - as she said ( thankfully)- I am always so reliable and notorious for being early everywhere and have never ever not turned up. Her dh had already gone to fetch teh girls.
The activity was held in a local community hall. It finished at 7.45pm . By 7.50pm the leader had to go on to a class and , apparantly having tried to contact me and the other girl's family , she told the girls she'd have to go to this class and they 'd have to come with her. The other girl's fatehr had already agreed to come and fetch the girls - a 5 min drive - but apparantly the leader said she couldn't wait and dd and the other girl ( we'll call her A) had to come with her.
She then proceeded to take them on a 20 minute walk in the freezing and pouring rain - its 2C where we are and really bucketing down. The girls were wearing just anorak type coats as teh activity is inside and all girls are normally dropped by car. When they got to the class teh girls ahd to sit on the floor whilst the class began both desparatley waiting for someone to get them adn both crying by now. What incensed A's father was that he had told the leader that he'd come straight away and asked how he was to find the girls if they are walking in the street and the leadeer replied that she couldn't wait and he'd have to circle the streets to find them or wait 20 mins until they arrived by foot to take them home. He did apparantly go roudn and round the streets looking but didn't arrive until 5 mins into class.
Both girls in tears and humiliated and soaking wet.
Now I know it is 1000% my fault - granted nad given. My only unease here ( and btw have ordered flowers for A's family by way of apology as well as grovelled on teh phone and apologised to my little dd too) is that this leader made 2 7 yr olds walk 20 miins in freezing rain with inadequate cold protection when really , IMVVVHO she should, as the adult in charge, whilst freely cursing me for making her late for her class, waited with them in teh warm for an adult to arrive and if ncessary missed her class.
Interested to know what other MNers take on this is.....