One of my girls went on a sleepover and she texted me on the Sunday morning saying that the mum was doing her nut and screaming and yelling at them all.
I asked her if she wanted us to come and collect her but she said she would wait until the time that was organised.
My children are not used to people yelling and screaming,we rarely yell or raise our voices.
After she returned home,she told me how upset she felt ,so I gathered all the girls up and with DH we sat down for a little chat.
We talked about how they could use our code word to get out of a situation they felt unsafe in.
That they could text me said word and I would invent a reason to come and collect them.
We talked about how situations can easily change and how people you think you know well,can often become very different and even threatening right before your eyes.
We discussed how another one of our children had not felt comfortable in this house and how we could work round seeing their friend but doing it without them feeling unsafe or scared.
It was decided that the child would be welcome in our house but our girls would not go to their house.
This was a disturbing event for us all, but I was very glad our DD felt comfortable enough to tell us about it.
What would you have done in this situation?
Comments on: "Scared." (5)
I’d do the same thing. That’s a logical way to handle a situation that might get out of hand for a teen. The same thing can work when it comes to dating and those kinds of parties.
The exact same thing! I remember feeling uncomfortable at friends house as a child. Not fun.
Just about exactly what you did. Planning a strategy in case of any future incident is great – especially if situations like Katie outlines arise.
Your parenting skills speak for themselves when the girls can come to you so easily when they come across a problem.
We have a code phrase for when the kids are at play dates….it’s “Oh no, Aunt Sally is sick?” When they say that, it means they want to come home and then I go and get them, even if it isn’t the appointed time. I told them that they can come home anytime, for any reason….if they are bored, tired, whatever.
Sleepovers and play dates are supposed to be fun and if they aren’t, why stay?
I would have done exactly the same thing.