Let’s do this together

YOUR

I’ve just waved The Dark Lord off on her first overnight trip to London to hang out with her gaming friends.

I’ve met some of the parents and taken all their phone numbers, but it’s the first time my daughter has made her own plans that didn’t involve me or anyone I know. It’s a worrying time, but I have to be able to trust her out there in the big wide world.

Mind you, I say waved off, I mainly just thought about all the things I wanted to say about safety and being sensible in a big city, and instead blurted out: “Just don’t be an idiot.”

She rolled her eyes and replied: “Oh, Mum, stop worrying. It’ll be fine.”

“You say that,” I said, giving her an old-fashioned look. “But the last time I left you alone with a friend in London, you’d dropped my bank card within an hour, got lost on the Tube, and I had to mount an international rescue.” She looked at me seriously, well, as seriously as anyone could while wearing a pair of purple-framed Harry Potter glasses and green hair, and told me: “It’s not going to happen this time. I’ve got my card inside my phone case.”

“Oh great, that means you’re going to lose your phone AND all means of getting cash. At least just put some money in your backpack just in case. Although you’re likely to lose that too,” I fretted. “Why don’t I just write my number on your arm?”

“Mum, stop it, I know your mobile number off by heart anyway,” she sighed, and slung her bag over her shoulder and went to the front door.

I followed after her, pretending to take the dog for a walk, but actually trying to follow her as far as the local station. “What if you’re knocked unconscious? How will anyone know to contact me?” I said worriedly, unable to stop myself thinking of worst-case scenarios.

“I’m not wearing a name tag like a dog. I’ll be fine, so chill, woman,” she said wearily.

“OK, OK, just call me when you get to London, OK?” I finally nagged, then watched her walk out of sight.

When I got home from the park, I realised I shouldn’t have worried about her forgetting all about me – there were 12 missed calls on my phone from my daughter, and she hadn’t even left the station yet.

Email me at siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk or write to Community Corner, PO Box 791, Winchester SO23 3RP.