A Mum's Worst Nightmare on the Tube: Lost Child and Grateful Thanks

This nearly happened to us, my nephew and son, age 5 and 6 jumped on and the doors closed! Luckily the stranger at the door pressed the button so fast it opened and my sister jumped on. As she did i shouted out to get off at the next stop. Now I've taught the kids that of it happens to always get off at the next top and wait for me. So scary.
 
I'll never ever forget being 13 in sole care of my 10 year old sister to get us from London Stansted to Sweden where we were meeting my biological grandmother for the first time.
Had to get a train from the airport in Sweden and change trains to get to the station she would be waiting for us. First train no problem. Second train very busy and we each had a large suitcase. Pulled up to our changeover station and I was stood next to the doors with the suitcases; my sister stuck behind about 6 people stood up who She thought were waiting to get off once the doors opened. I get off with the cases, turn around expecting to see her getting off, no sign. Run halfway back down the carriage on the station platform to see her stood there still thinking the passengers are just taking their time 🙄 I bang on the window and just as she and half the passengers jump out if their skin, the beeping sounds and the train doors slide closed and the train starts moving off! When I tell you I SCREAMED... so loud the driver heard it, stuck his head out if the window and shouted at me in Swedish. I just screamed "my sisters still on the f** train! Please let her off!" Driver opened the doors, I ran back to where she was and screamed "f*** MOVE!!!" At my sister. 🤣🙈👀 literally Everyone in the train station and on the train literally watched as she pushed her way through, basically fell off the train and omg did I not let go of her hand for the rest of the journey 🙈
I'm 35 now and my sister always tells the story to her kids as the only time in her life she's been grateful for my big gob! 🙈 this was before phones were common, although I think I actually had a blackberry lol but my sister certainly didn't and she wasn't very streetwise at the time and very shy. She would never have had the sense to get off at the next station and either get on the next train back to where I was or wait there for me. And she'd never have thought to ask someone for help 🙈
22 years later and I can still feel that dread sliding down into my stomach as the doors closed 🙈
 
When I was 4 I got in the lift in a high block of flats and my mum was chatting to someone in the lobby so off I went 18 floors up on my own. I’ve had nightmares about it 😅
 
I was in Rome with my mum when I was 5 and I slipped into a toy shop while walking down the street. I couldn't speak Italian and my mum very nearly lost her mind with worry!
 
As a child my grandad would take us out for the day to see the sights. We live in London but always had a rule. If we got stuck on train without him we would get off next stop and wait. If he got stuck on train an us platform we would wait until he made it back to us. Same as wherever we went we would pick a statue or place that we could all see and find an agree if we got separated or lost we would make our way there an stay put until we met up again. This always worked and I now do with my kids 🙂
 
My worst nightmare, we have a couple of rules - if your lost in a place stay where you are, we will look for you! Find something to hold onto.
If you get on a train and we don’t get off at the next station and stand by wall/bin we will come to you.
If we get on a train and you don’t, wait we will come back to you.
Worked well on the Metro - especially when everyone is pushing and shoving to get on.
 
I got lost on the MTR in Hong Kong when I was a kid, my ticket didn’t work and my parents and sisters’ did …. but the staff were so lovely in the control room and I was very well looked after. That was the late 80’s xxx
 
I’m a Londoner born and bred and hate the tube for this reason!!
If you’re on your own it’s fine but with kids it’s stressful.
I’ve done it with a class of primary school children before. My heart was in my mouth the whole time.
 
Oh don’t worry, my son has lived in London his whole life and one day randomly jumped off the train the stop before ours as I shouted “what are you doing?!’ Luckily he got back on before the doors closed.
 
This happened to me and my daughter on the tube aswell.It scared the life out of me .Luckily for some reason they opened again and she got off quickly.Never again🤗💕xx
 
I did this to my Mum as a teen once, I was more worried about her getting on the next train and knowing where to get off than she was about me I think
 
As a kid I did this, middle of rush hour, my mum had my little sister and I just jumped on tube and doors shut, I couldn't get out at the next station as the crowds wouldn't let me out. So I stayed on train until I could get out and then just sat on a seat. No help from anyone. Mum and sister did find me and I'm sure it wasn't that long, but felt like hours to me as I was only 10.
When I took my own kids on tube it was hold hands, stay close and I mean close, and we all step on train together and never ever travelled in rush hour 😁
 
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