Woman left furious after another mother confiscated her 9-year-old son's cellphone during kids' game night, causing him to miss his "pick-up alarm", leaving his grandfather waiting outside in the cold: 'Confiscated his property and overrode my parenting'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Dec 11, 2025 4:00 PM EST

I'm not yet a mother, but I can imagine motherhood being extremely difficult…and by 'motherhood' I don't mean parenting…I mean, having to deal with other mothers! It's like suddenly everyone is in High School again: more competitive and power-hungry than ever. There are always going to be different types of mothers…the helicopter, the cool mom, and the host! No matter which category you fall into, or whether or not they overlap, that is perfectly fine. No one can tell you how to parent your child, nor should any other parent try to parent your child for you! We think this host mother may need a reminder of that! 

This mother almost had smoke coming out of her ears when she learned that her 9-year-old son was so late to be picked up after a kids' game night at his friend's house. After having this poor grandfather wait for his grandson in the freezing cold, this mother learned that the host-mother had taken away her son's cellphone at game night, which was solely intended to be used as an alarm for "pick-up time". However, this mother refuses to allow him to use it in front of the other children…confiscating it for the kitchen! 

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  • Just because she didn't want one of her son's friends using a cellphone, it definitely doesn't mean she had the right to confiscate it! Especially without even asking about its intended use! What makes it even worse is that this little boy was trying to explain himself, before being met with the “I don't cares”…What is any 9-year-old meant to do in that situation? Well, he shouldn't have been put in it in the first place! 

  • Woman taking away her child's cellphone
    via pixelshot

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AIO upset that another mom took away my son's phone he was using only for an alarm?

    My son (9yo) went to a family game night a friend of his mom started doing once a month with a bunch of families and kids.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • I had told her this morning we couldn't come since my other child is sick (has on going medical issues) and she offered for my son to still come so he could hang out with her son and the other kids.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • His grandpa offered to drop him off and pick him up, but he can't walk well to come up to their house (steep steps, he has had both knees replaced) so we set an alarm on my son's phone for 5 min before his grandpa would be there so he had time to get his things, say bye, etc.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • I told him to keep his phone with him but in his pocket so he wouldn't lose it or miss the alarm and leave his granpa out waiting in the snowy freezing weather.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • My son told his friend he had his phone but showed him that nothing fun on it worked.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • The other mom saw this and got upset he had a phone, made him put it on airplane mode (even though nothing worked anyway) and then refused to let him keep it with him and forced him to leave it in the kitchen (where he couldn't hear it and missed the alarm).
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • My son tried explaining that his mom told him to keep it in his pocket but she told him she "didn't care".
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • Context my son has a cheap cell phone, nothing fancy. No data. No texting or calling.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • Not even a sim card in it. We use it for audiobooks, learning apps, and on wifi he has a messaging app to talk to approved family only but when not on wifi it is mostly just a big clock and calculator.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • He has it for times he might stay with his dad, or with other family when I have to stay with his sister during hospital stays.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • I know he is young but this has been the best solution for us. I am really upset that the other mom practically confiscated his property and overrode my parenting.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • Missing the alarm caused him to be late which caused a ripple effect that negatively impacted his grandpa, as well as me and his sister since I was anxiously waiting trying to figure out why he was so late coming home.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • Old man sitting on a bench in the snow
    via pressmaster

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Also, this party had a lots of adults with their phones, kids playing games, and watching a movie so I don't understand how him having a device for an alarm was so offended?
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • I told my son he should have never mentioned his phone or got it out of his pocket, but I really think the other mom overstepped and I don't know if I should let him keep going to their house anymore.
    via MatterMysterious5129
  • Woman shouting while on the phone
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • MansoppLongnose NOR you need to personally talk to the other mom and tell her NEVER to touch your son's property EVER again. This was a massive overreach, and she had NO authority to do this. It doesn't matter that they were in her house, this was NOT her property, and this could have caused an emergency with your family. If she doesn't explicitly agree to never interfere like that again, I would highly recommend not letting your son go over there without you again.
    via MansoppLongnose
  • bellawella121212 Uh no I would absolutely talk to the other mom and id explain the situation and id tell her its not cool to take my kids property that I paid for, when I had him take it for a specific reason. Thats insane.
    via bellawella121212
  • Rough_Acadia_5631 It's really weird to take another kids phone away without calling and checking with their parents first on what the rules are. It's a safety thing.
    via Rough_Acadia_5631
  • high_on_acrylic All the information about the phone not having anything but the alarm on it is irrelevant. That is not her property to confiscate. As for everyone saying the 9 year old shouldn't have been responsible, that is EXACTLY the kind of responsibility a 9 year old should have. I swear this idea that kids should never have any ounce of responsibility is why kids these days feel incapable of doing anything that isn't directly handed to them. A 9 year old is capable of packing up at an ala
    via high_on_acrylic
  • Spaz-Mouse384 What would she have done if your father had fallen! Some people think they are gods. And that they can control other people's lives. Her own kids yes - your kid absolutely freaking not! Like everybody else, talk to her! TALK to her. Let her know what she could have caused. Don't let her excuse her way out of it. And of course, on the other end, talk to your son and ask him how he feels about maintaining the friendship.
    via Spaz-Mouse384
  • Temporary_Suspect101 You definitely aren't OR. Personally, I would just tell the other mother that your son won't be able to go to game nights alone anymore because his phone was taken from him and he missed his alarm. Since you can't trust that he'll be able to keep his phone, he can no longer go without an adult with him. She can put 2 and 2 together after that. I wouldn't wait for an apology or expect one from someone like that. The only thing that matters are the facts, and that's what you'r
    via Temporary_Suspect101
  • AggravatingCaptain14 Just fyi, I've got a 9yo as well with an old phone that only works on wifi. Also set to message family when connected to wifi. (Also has Disney+ and Netflix for her to watch on her "kids" profiles. Screen time turns the apps off at a certain time. So don't feel you need to explain yourself. It's basically a small iPad. Then to get to your point. I'd be PISSED!!!!! I'd say something for sure. I'd also let him decide if he wants to go back. If he doesn't then Id be happy not t
    via AggravatingCaptain14
  • KelsarLabs I would be fucking furious.
    via KelsarLabs

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