12 year old not home from school now.. what the hell do I do?

[Ilovemyrabbits]

My daughter rarely goes anywhere after school, but it's not unheard of. She is not home and is usually back by 3. I have left messages on her mobile, have called friends, but gotten no reply. I don't have my mobile, so don't have her friends' mobile numbers. Advice????? Please???

[Ilovemyrabbits]

Hi Hovering. We used to get this service, but we moved from BT to Plusnet with our landline, so we don't get that service anymore. BT finally told me to contact our current provider to get the message.

DD and I talked about what happened. She has completely forgotten that my phone was in for repair and had texted me. She was sooo, sooo sorry and I told her it didn't matter. She'd tried to contact me and it was just a problem with hardware rather than anything else. I hugged her when she came in and told her I loved her and not to worry. I was so relieved!

[HoveringKestrel]

Just an FYI, if u text a landline it does that Stephen Hawking voice and reads it out.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

Thanks juggling. Dd came home repentant, and worried she'd be in trouble, having heard my frantic messages. I wasn't cross with her at all. Just really pleased to see her. We have had a most pleasant evening as a result. So grateful for the support here. Phew...got my girl back :)

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Hurray ! Was just going to post to say it's probably that she's growing up a bit, more than anything else. My dd is in y9 and has come home late a couple of times.
" Oh, I was waiting in the library with my friends because XYZ. Sorry, you weren't worried were you ?!"
We need to get better at sorting our mobile phones out too, and other communication issues.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

Me too :) Knew (kind of) that it'd be o.k.

[spiderlight]

Glad she's OK!

[Ilovemyrabbits]

Thanks Maria. It is out of character, so was all the more freaky. I've still got the adrenaline running round my system. I feel slightly manic. I'm about to drink alcohol and eat an ice cream (bugger the diet) to help myself calm down a bit.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

LOL. The only thing that kept me from calling the police is that I'm an older mum and I don't want to be an old fuss pot. I'm sure I linger on the borders of neglect where dd is concerned. Just occasionally, though, I indulge my older parent/PFB/Precious Only Child nature and have a drama queen hissy fit.

Think I've got a bottle of Bud in the fridge that got delivered with our last chinese takeaway. It's getting opened right now in the absence of wine.

Thanks again ladies. xx

[Maria33]

Cross post. Glad all is ok x

[Maria33]

My v responsible dd did this once in y7. It's even freakier when it's out of character. It's just the beginning of teenage thoughtlessness... I'm sure she's fine - it's a sunny Friday. Could you drive down to school or local park?

Poor you. Keep calm

[KrazyKurls]

If WOULD have, I didn't actually call the police on your behalf!

[Justfornowitwilldo]

Glad all is ok.

[KrazyKurls]

You poor thing of have gone out of my mind with worry and called the police by now, but my eldest is only 5

Some for you

[usualsuspect]

Phew, been there though,so understand your drama queenness

[BerthaTheBogCleaner]

Phew!

They're so used to mobiles that it doesn't occur to them to ask their friend's mum if they can use the landline to call home.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

Gone 50 shades of grey even. Picking up soft porn isn't the way I deal with my problems. Honest. Even though my name probably doesn't convince any of you that I'm telling the truth now, I really truly am.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

Thanks everyone. HAve told her she's got to pay for my next hair dye as I've got 50 shades of grey waiting for her to call!!!!

[Ilovemyrabbits]

She has just rung. She's at her mates house. Her signal was low (hur hur). My drama queen time is over. I'm sitting here with a pen and paper writing rules on how we deal with this in future. Apparently, my landline allows me to text, but because I'm no longer with BT I can't receive responses. Instead, I get a message from BT telling me to call the number, which tells me to check the website, but actually, that can never achieve anything, because I don't have an account with them!!??!! WEll, thanks BT!

Still...everything's o.k. So sorry for the mad panic and thanks for all the advice.

[jussey17]

Sorry not a helpful thing to say just wanted to let you know you we're not alone. All will be fine she is 12 and sensible. Try to stay calm, and try not to kill by. Can ou ring phone repair shop for help b4 they close?

[jussey17]

Have you got the message?

[Ilovemyrabbits]

The park is chuff off huge as well, so the chance of locating her is remote. My poor DH is about to go into a social evening with clients, and he's frantic now too. Can you tell it's my only child??

[Ilovemyrabbits]

I know it's almost certainly o.k. It's the small chance that it's not o.k. that worries me. Am waiting for BT to answer now.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

BT keep ringing to say there's a text message, to ring this number to access it. I ring the number, it tells me to go to the webpage. The webpage doesn't give the number I need. I'm on hold with them at the moment and they are very busy, so I'm desperately trying to get a response from them. They're saying an hour. If I could get the message, I'd know one way or the other. As it is, I've got no clue....Bloody BT are off my Christmas card list..

[SlightlyJaded]

Ok. You know it's almost certainly ok don't you?

But I understand the panic.

Can you ask a neighbour to house-sit whist you go and check the park?
Can you think of any emails you've ever had that might have contact numbers for her friends on them? School trips? Anything like that?
Do you know their surnames? Can you call another parent?

[seeker]

She's forgotten about your phone being broken, she's left you a message and gone to the park.

Don't be angry with her when you find her- your relief will make you sound crosser than you are.