Please help me calm down and advice would be appreciated.
My 9th grader just started track and field. He usually gets out between 4:45 and 5pm. I waited until 5:30, started to worry...called my husband at home who just got back from a work trip to ask if anyone had called or had my son called...no. I started driving around the school; my husband called me back a few minutes later: his coach called, his fellow runners said they had lost him "at some point" and he could not be found. I did not remain composed to say the least. I quickly drove around one more time as my husband drove to school, did not see him. He was now 1 hr late! I went to the security guard as it was getting dark to ask them to call the police ASAP....suddenly, just before my heart jumped out of my chest, I saw my son, pale as a ghost arriving into the school grounds. He had been lost for an hour did not have a cell phone and by the grace of God made it back. He told us that the coach was not there today, and that some other person had told them just to go for a run, the upper classmen went on a route that he had never been on before and they left him behind.
Boy, am I furious!!! Let's just say my whole body is shaking ...sigh, deep breath!
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
Just had a terrible scare!
(34 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #
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OMG, TL! I'd have been out of my mind over this! Your son must have been pretty shaken too. Please complain to the school about the lack of supervision. If they won't provide supervision, then can you get a cell phone for your son to take with him? {{{hugs}}}
Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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I am sorry for your fright with your son. I thank God he is home with you safe and sound. You need to look into this lack of control over the run area. I wish you luck and glad you may be able to kiss your young man goodnight this evening. Calm down, take a deep breath, all is well.
Posted 3 years ago by Lynn from PA 6/8 #
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That whole scenario even got my blood pressure racing. Take slow,deep breaths & know your son is alright. Just hug him & be glad he got back safe & tomorrow you can let the s**t hit the fan. Poor Tigerlilly. If my heart was pounding bad just reading your post, I can't imagine how fast yours was going. The scare is over Thank goodness & son is home safe. {{{HUGS}}}
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OMG, Tigerlilly..I would too be shaking. Thank God your son found his way back to the school. Sending you some calming thoughts and huge hugs. Wow, how scary!! I would definitely notify the school about this incident and hopefully they will give these students a good reprimand for taking a freshman on a route he isn't familar with as well as the person who just told the group to go running by themselves. I assume your son will not ever go running with that group ever again. A cell phone might be something to consider.
Posted 3 years ago by SylMiaFelixMomma #
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Breathe first and hug your boy close. You need to make a report to the school. This is a serious issue. Often school prohibit cellphones and since that is the case they must take responsibility to make sure that all students are somewhat together. Obviously not everyone runs the same pace so there should be sufficient supervision, meaning multiple adults. My daughter ran track through 9th grade. She has asthma. One of the coaches told her that if she didn't run the mile then they would have to forfiet. She had just finished the 1/2 mile and was wheezing. She ran. The other coach ended up carrying her off the field because when she finished she was in a full blown asthma attack. She ended up in the hospital for 2 days. We got lucky the other coach knew what to do and got her emergency help immidiately. If anything like that had happened to your son there would have been no one to help him. This is a school sponsored program and they must be aware of a need of adequate supervision.
TL use that fury--the school is responsible. I am so thankful he made it back. Please pass on praise for him keeping his head in a scary situation and making it back. TL be proud of your son.
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{{{{TL}}}}} I can't even imagine how frightened you were, as was your son. I certainly agree with SM - you must make a report to the school. The coach is responsible, and accountable, for the safety of his athletes. He failed in that duty but the school must be informed in order to take appropriate action.
Deep breath!
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Believe me, my husband and I will be at the school tomorrow. Yes, I will give him the cell phone, but I don't feel that this is enough. My goodness, what if a child left alone gets into an accident, faints or somehow is left disabled, a cell phone would not solve that problem. Strict supervision is what I expect and demand.
Sadly now my son is so frustrated He's a teenager) because Mom and Dad will make a big fuss and he feels like he will be singled out.Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #
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Well, I remember how it was to be a teenager (back in the stone age) and I know that he will feel some embarrassment. But this time it just has to be addressed at the school. Hopefully he can understand and maintain a low profile :-)
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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I did make a report. That coach wasn't coaching again. We also had a child die from and asthma attack a year earlier. The sub didn't know the child had asthma and thought it was a ploy to get out of class. That is why any time there is something going on like this it must be made aware to the high powers that be. Many times principals have no idea that an incident occured.
TL I say turn the fury to good and make a report.
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{{{ TL}}} so glad your Son is ok!!! I hate those scary times! (we all have them as parents!)..... maybe you could go see the Principle privately....... they understand about kids not wanting their parents to "make a big stink"... but this should definitely be brought to the principle's attention..... the one at our high school was great, on top of things, and very discrete (as far as the kids perceived)... but was VERY on things such as that - if supervision was lax or what.... God bless you and your Son..... "He watches over us all!"
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Thanks everyone...trying to put my heart back in my chest, but it's still beating a mile a minute.
Have been out most of the day, but just took a look of the title of why we like TDK. Well this was my moment, when I just needed to vent and hear some words of wisdom. I just found yet another reason for liking TDK...thank you.[]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]2,,,sorry, Kara just walked over the keyboard LOLPosted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #
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ohmigosh TL. That is really horrible. So glad it turned out the way it did. Complain, complain, complain and do it not only on behalf of your son but the other kids as well. If you know any parents I think I would encourage them all to telephone the school as well. Have a hot cup of tea or something stronger if you like and go hug your son, then have a good sleep.
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OMG! Thank God your son is all right! I have to agree with the comments everyone made. I would have been a basket case, too. Even if it embarrasses your son, make a loud noise about it to the school - and any one else who will listen. Especially if that person is in authority.
{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}Posted 3 years ago by artistabobbi TX 1/17 #
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Thanks again everyone. I finally was able to get a bite to eat and now I'm going to see if I can sleep. I am exhausted but also so wound up.
Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #
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{{{HUGS TL & YOUR SON}}}
Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
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TL I am so glad your son is ok. I would definately contact the school, because even if the coach wasn't there whoever took his place should be held completely responsible! The idea of getting a cell phone is a good idea. My son who is 15 has one and we have a plan on his phone that has GPS tracking and as long as his phone is on we or law enforcement can track him with GPS. He just keeps it in his pocket with the ringer off when he is at school. We don't have a texting package with his phone which I think is most schools biggest problem with students having cell phones. (((TL & your Son)))
Posted 3 years ago by BoogerMercurysMama #
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{{TL & Son}}. That is so scarey. I would have been a basket case. I am so glad it ended so well.
Posted 3 years ago by SammyandOliversmama #
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(((((TL))))) That is so scary!!! Thank goodness he is okay and found his way back. I would be so mad at his schoolmates for doing that to him. Poor guy; I can only imagine how he must have felt. I can't believe none of his classmates came forward and said he was missing or left behind. Who knows what could have happened. Thank god he's ok
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Ditto to what has already been said.
Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #
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Tigerlily I have thought about this all day. I know your son's apprehension, but the school needs to know and take responsibility. Did the meeting this morning go well? They should be apologizing to you and your son, not to mention have a plan to remedy the problem--that is the least they can do!
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Tigerlilly, When I saw your post last night I actually had my tummy flip. We had just gotten home from a meeting explaining how the Amber Alert system works in our area and things we should be aware of and can help with (police auxiliary members). I immediately went...DID SHE CALL THE POLICE...DID SHE.... Then when I saw you had found him and he was "okay" I was still worried. Sorry I didn't post last night but I am glad things turned out "okay" but I do hope you were able to get a better explanation to why it happened. Don't ever let your child's apprehension stop you from doing the right thing since next time the child might not be as lucky.
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I had a similar problem when my girls were young - which was long ago enough that cell phones weren't available. They went on a field trip on the train. The train was delayed several hours because of an accident on the route. None of the chaperones/teachers thought to call the school office and let anyone know. Consequently, 30 mothers sat in the school parking lot and worried. Eventually someone (not me) thought to call the police and report the problem. It took them all of 10 minutes to contact Amtrak and find out the problem.
But, it took the school almost 2 weeks to even agree to acknowledge a mistake had been made. Eventually some parent threatened to sue and the school district put in some guidelines regarding the procedures to follow when students were off campus. I hope your school district jumped on this and your meeting today resulted in some changes being put into effect ASAP.
The school needs to follow through with this. First and foremost, kids should never be off campus like that without an adult. Even if the adult is just following along in the car behind the last kid, it would provide some safety.
What about the coach who sent them on the run - did he stay at the school and take a head count as the kids came in? If not, he made a serious mistake. Did the coach call as soon as he realized the older kids had 'lost' your son? Did he make any attempt to find your son?, i.e.: asking the other kids to show him the route and point out where your son had disappeared?
What about running on the 'buddy system"? How could the older kids have 'lost' your son and not realized it? It sounds like they just took off and didn't bother to wait for him. At least if the kids are sent out on the buddy system, if one of them gets injured or lost, they aren't alone.
In today's environment, some pervert could grab a kid and be miles away unless the school has some way to track them. At the very least, the kids should have some sort of signaling device.
There are Life Alert systems for the elderly - how difficult would it be to outfit each kid with a bracelet that had GPS and an emergency button. A child off-campus who got lost or hurt could press the button for help. Or a child who was missing could be tracked via GPS. If such a system doesn't exist already, one of us should invent it and all schools should get a supply of them. You don't have to have one for each student, just enough to assign one to the kids leaving campus for field trips, track and field runs, volunteer service, etc.
Posted 3 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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Thanks evryone. Alicia, I was about to call the police when I saw my son.
We communicated with the head of athletics who will meet with the coach and principal tomorrow to come up with a plan so that this will never happen to my son or any other child. We will meet with them all tomorrow to ensure that the plan is acceptable to us.
Need I tell you, my son was not at practice today and won't be until we are 100% reassured.
PS: I think my heart has finally slowed down.Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #
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