Should I Have Called The Police?

[Qpmomma]

So, I found out from my daughter's teacher that a mom from her old daycare came in, said she was my friend and tried to take my daughter out of the daycare! I don't really know this woman! Luckily, my daughter's teacher told her she couldn't take her because she wasn't on the pick up list and I never said she was picking her up. The woman got really up set and seemed shocked and the teacher told her to leave.

I got this lady's phone number and called her and threatened her and told her if she showed up again the police will be called. She acted shocked and said she wanted to take her to lunch. I told her we are NOT friends, our kids are NOT friends and to stay away from my child.

My husband thought about calling the police and pulling our daughter out of daycare. Of course I told her nope, she will stay there. But I am afraid if I call the police they will go to the daycare and cause a big stir and upset everyone. Plus, I already confronted the lady. I feel that because I confronted her and got my point across the police don't need to get involved. I think people are too willing to call the cops in certain situations if they can handle it themselves.

What do you guys think, as mothers and daycare providers?

[itlw8]

heck yes you need to call AND the daycare should have called you and then called the police when they found you did not send the lady.
WHY because she is going to try to do it with another child somewhere. Ony a wacko prson would do that. One that was trying to take a child. Call now they need to get this lady on their radar.

[daycare]

So, I found out from my daughter's teacher that a mom from her old daycare came in, said she was my friend and tried to take my daughter out of the daycare! I don't really know this woman! Luckily, my daughter's teacher told her she couldn't take her because she wasn't on the pick up list and I never said she was picking her up. The woman got really up set and seemed shocked and the teacher told her to leave.

I got this lady's phone number and called her and threatened her and told her if she showed up again the police will be called. She acted shocked and said she wanted to take her to lunch. I told her we are NOT friends, our kids are NOT friends and to stay away from my child.

My husband thought about calling the police and pulling our daughter out of daycare. Of course I told her nope, she will stay there. But I am afraid if I call the police they will go to the daycare and cause a big stir and upset everyone. Plus, I already confronted the lady. I feel that because I confronted her and got my point across the police don't need to get involved. I think people are too willing to call the cops in certain situations if they can handle it themselves.

What do you guys think, as mothers and daycare providers?

I would never risk my child's safety. Call the police. This woman sounds like a complete but job.

[Michael]

I am a bit conflicted on the facts of not knowing the history of this person. Was she a destructive force at the other daycare or just someone that was an acquaintance? Maybe she thought you were friends when you were not?

Still, trying to take a child out of her surroundings without asking the parent is concerning to say the least. I think you did the right thing by confronting this person and put her on notice.

[Qpmomma]

We dropped off our kids together at the old daycare. I was always polite to her but didn't really like her. She used to make comments like "your daughter and my son are really great friends". My daughter is 2. When I called her she said she thought that because we were "friends" and our kids were "friends" that I would be ok with her picking her up and taking her to lunch.

I did talk to the teacher. She said she's never had to deal with anything like this in 18 years. She said she didn't really know what to do other than escort her out the door and not let her take my child. I told her if ANYONE came that was not on our pickup list to call me ASAP. I don't know if I should, but I am letting the daycare provider off the hook on that one. Was it a mistake? Yes, but the important thing is she didn't let her take my child.

[grandmom]

Your dcp is awesome and deserves your thanks for keeping your child safe. You should tell her how much you appreciate her. And include flowers.

[Live and Learn]

Your dcp is awesome and deserves your thanks for keeping your child safe. You should tell her how much you appreciate her. And include flowers.

happyfaceI agree!happyface

.....and yes! I would call the cops.

[Qpmomma]

The only think I wish she would have done was call when it happened. Other than that I think she handled it VERY well. I did thank her for not letting her go. Her vacation is next week and I am thinking about giving her some extra "spending money",

[crazydaycarelady]

Does this lady's child go to the same daycare as your child now? maybe she was thinking she would take them both to lunch?

Either way you make plans with the parents first. What a dumba$$!

[DBug]

I would call the police, maybe not to press charges but to at least file a complaint. Some people are clueless -- she may need a call from the police to fill her in on how unacceptable this is. On the other hand, she may be crazy or a serious threat to any other children and should be on the radar, so to speak.

Technically, it's attempted abduction. That's pretty serious.

Your daycare provider did an awesome job. If I were her, I'd be worried about the safety of other children, and after hearing from you (and realizing this wasn't just a miscommunication or mis-guided relative), I'd probably call the police too. I would be worried for the safety of the other children in my care. It only takes a second for a child to disappear.

[Provider_Manda]

I would call the police, maybe not to press charges but to at least file a complaint. Some people are clueless -- she may need a call from the police to fill her in on how unacceptable this is. On the other hand, she may be crazy or a serious threat to any other children and should be on the radar, so to speak.

Technically, it's attempted abduction. That's pretty serious.

Your daycare provider did an awesome job. If I were her, I'd be worried about the safety of other children, and after hearing from you (and realizing this wasn't just a miscommunication or mis-guided relative), I'd probably call the police too. I would be worried for the safety of the other children in my care. It only takes a second for a child to disappear.

I agree with what the above poster said...I would call the police and file a compliant that way if they would get another call about another child she would have a red flag!! Thank God your provider done her job right...We never know when we will come across someone "crazy"

[countrymom]

I would call the police, maybe not to press charges but to at least file a complaint. Some people are clueless -- she may need a call from the police to fill her in on how unacceptable this is. On the other hand, she may be crazy or a serious threat to any other children and should be on the radar, so to speak.

Technically, it's attempted abduction. That's pretty serious.

Your daycare provider did an awesome job. If I were her, I'd be worried about the safety of other children, and after hearing from you (and realizing this wasn't just a miscommunication or mis-guided relative), I'd probably call the police too. I would be worried for the safety of the other children in my care. It only takes a second for a child to disappear.

remember the tori case.

basically the girl was at school and a lady came and got the girl. She was supposedly friends with the mother (I think the mom bought a dog from this women) well it ended tragically and they are in jail.

[SunshineMama]

So, I found out from my daughter's teacher that a mom from her old daycare came in, said she was my friend and tried to take my daughter out of the daycare! I don't really know this woman! Luckily, my daughter's teacher told her she couldn't take her because she wasn't on the pick up list and I never said she was picking her up. The woman got really up set and seemed shocked and the teacher told her to leave.

I got this lady's phone number and called her and threatened her and told her if she showed up again the police will be called. She acted shocked and said she wanted to take her to lunch. I told her we are NOT friends, our kids are NOT friends and to stay away from my child.

My husband thought about calling the police and pulling our daughter out of daycare. Of course I told her nope, she will stay there. But I am afraid if I call the police they will go to the daycare and cause a big stir and upset everyone. Plus, I already confronted the lady. I feel that because I confronted her and got my point across the police don't need to get involved. I think people are too willing to call the cops in certain situations if they can handle it themselves.

What do you guys think, as mothers and daycare providers?

I would still call the police. As a daycare provider and mom who has a child in preschool, if anyone tried to take my daughter from school I would freak out. Especially if I didnt know them. I allow family members, and my best friend to pick up my daughter and thats it. Thats so scary! I wonder if she has done that before?

[Cat Herder]

I also would file a report so there is a documened history for this woman.

Your DD may not be the only kid she tries this with. The next childs teacher may not be as smart.

[Former Teacher]

While I believe she should have called you IMMEDIATELY following what happened, she absolutely did the right thing. Yes you should file a report with the police. This way God forbid something does happen to your child or someone else's its's on file.

OT: Once at my former center I had a father (parents were divorced) call me out of the blue saying that his sister would be picking up the boy. I said okay. Yet something told me something wasn't right. I hadn't talked to the father in MONTHS. So I immediately called the mother, just to tell her that Aunt Jane will be picking up A.

Good thing I called. Mom was extremely uncomfortable. She said it was alright if the father picked up the boy but she wasn't on good terms blah blah blah with the aunt at all and that she was 5 mins away and would be picking up the boy.

The father was FURIOUS with me. He came barging into the center demanding to speak with me in private. I refused. I didn't care if he made a scene (the children were outside but parents were coming in and out) but I wanted it done in public.

He demanded to know why I involved the mother etc. I explained to him that his sister was not on the list plus I hadn't seen nor heard from him in who knows how long. He wanted to see the list. Then he was REALLY furious because HE wasn't on the list. :: He was yelling at me saying he was that child's father and blah blah. I said to him ANY man can come into that door stating that they are a child's father...doesn't mean I am going to release the child. He eventually calmed down after we discussed things.

I talked to the mother the following day and I told her point blank that I will NEVER deal with him again. She and only those SHE authorizes may come into the center or I will call the police.

Long story short: I never saw the father again and the boy went to kindergarten. Then I got a talking to from the director ( I was the Assistant) that I overreacted. I don't think I did. My job was to protect those children. If I had a "mother's intuition" then by jolly I am going to go with it!