Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Original poster

10 year old going to the shop with out us knowing

30 replies

mum23kidz · 02/03/2014 23:52

I am at a total loss on how to deal with this. My 10 year old has been caught in our local post office at 6 am. The owner called me at 9 am to let me know this, she didn't buy anything or take anything, but what the hell do I do?

OP posts:
TheTerribleBaroness · 02/03/2014 23:55

6am? Did she break in?

joanofarchitrave · 02/03/2014 23:56

What does she say she was doing? 6am?

Dilidali · 02/03/2014 23:57

What do you mean? Did your DC just opened the door and went to the post office?

Racehorse3007 · 03/03/2014 00:01

Ask her why of course Smile x

Yamyoid · 03/03/2014 00:02

Lock the door and hide the key at night.

Original poster
mum23kidz · 03/03/2014 00:24

no, the owner of the shop was there and saw her enter the shop. She did not break in. We lock of front door at night already. We were in bed when she took off. She is at school at the moment, but we will be asking her why and what she was doing in the shop.

What else should I do?

OP posts:
Lottiedoubtie · 03/03/2014 00:26

Depends what she says.

Do you think she just fancied a walk? Or wanted to buy illicit sweets/magazines? Then got scared last minute?

joanofarchitrave · 03/03/2014 00:29

Is it possible she was sleepwalking?

thornrose · 03/03/2014 00:40

How come the Post Office owner has your phone number? Are POs open at 6 am?

nooka · 03/03/2014 00:55

Saying she was 'caught' seems to suggest she was doing something wrong. Assuming the post office was open at 6am and that she just walked in and then went home again I don't really understand why this is such a terrible thing (from their perspective). Or why you were rung about it three hours later.

If she was not safe and the owner was worried about her wouldn't he/she have contacted you immediately (as s/he knew your number). It all seems a bit odd to me.

Ask her what she was doing and go from there. Make sure she knows that you need to know where she is in case she gets into trouble.

Original poster
mum23kidz · 03/03/2014 01:45

Thanks for the replies so far.
The post office was not open at 6 am, the owners husband was there (i don't know why) and saw my daughter in there looking at stuff in the shop.
They have our number because they ring us when our magazines are ready to pick up.
I told the owner of the post office they were to call me straight away next time so I could go get her.

OP posts:
akachan · 03/03/2014 15:01

When my SIL was about ten she went out for a walk at about 5 am and took her 6 week old sister out with her. If it makes you feel any better?

TantrumsAndBalloons · 03/03/2014 15:02

How did she get in if it was closed?

Lottiedoubtie · 03/03/2014 15:03

So what did she say when you asked her about it?

ISeeYouShiverWithAntici · 03/03/2014 15:08

so she got out of the house, that was all locked up, got to the post office (how far away from your home is the post office?), got in to it despite it not being open and was back at home before the rest of the household woke up, and the doors were still locked? So she what? got out of a window, propped it open and got back in that way? Was she dressed? What about the morning routine? breakfast, shower etc?
What time does the household get up? You didn't realise she had been out of the house?

iklboo · 03/03/2014 15:12

BIL once got dressed & walked about 1.5 miles to school at about 3 in the morning sleepwalking. Could she have done the same?

Although how did she get out of your locked house & into a locked post office? Sorry if I seem dim - was the post office unlocked (stocking up etc) but not open (to customers)?

DowntonTrout · 03/03/2014 15:13

First of all, could it be a case of mistaken identity?

Or does your DD sleepwalk?

Had you any idea that she was out of the house? I mean, if you were asleep have you seen her since, was she back in the house before school and acting normally?

If it was your DD and she is letting herself out whilst you are in bed it could be happening at any time and that is what would worry me. It is a very strange thing to do.

Catsmamma · 03/03/2014 15:14

so she was there at six am, he called you at nine

did she come home and carry on with the day as normal?
how did she get out if your doors are locked?

have you not seen her since bedtime last night?

Let's have a few more details please OP!

DowntonTrout · 03/03/2014 15:15

My brother was brought home by police a few times when he was a young teen. He was a sleepwalker but it was usually earlier in the night than that.

KatieHopkinsEvilTwin · 03/03/2014 15:16

I'm quite confused.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 03/03/2014 15:18

That's a good point, how did she get back into a locked house?
Is there any possibility that this is a mistake and it wasn't actually your dd?

DowntonTrout · 03/03/2014 15:23

Re-reading your posts OP, you do seem to accept it was your DD because you say she "took off".

Sorry to go on about sleepwalking but if that's what it is you need to be careful questioning her as often people aren't fully aware of what they're doing and she may not know. It can be quite distressing and confusing for a child.

ThreeBeeOneGee · 03/03/2014 17:52

Lock the door and hide the key at night.

Please don't do this, for fire safety reasons.

MinesAPintOfTea · 03/03/2014 18:52

Can you get a basic door alarm and put it on at night? Still possible to get out in a fire but dd can't disable it if you don't tell her.

JeanSeberg · 03/03/2014 18:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Swipe left for the next trending thread