KEY POINTS:
She endured every parent's worst nightmare when her 14-year-old daughter ran away with a 41-year-old man.
But yesterday, Rosina Davis was beaming as she told the Weekend Herald how relieved she was to have her daughter Julie home, and how the 14-year-old had returned unscathed.
"She's just her same old self, maybe a little bit wiser for the experience," Ms Davis said.
Ms Davis said her family's biggest fear during Julie's 12-day disappearance with father-of-seven Craig Howard was that Howard was doing something sexual with her daughter.
But that fear had proved unfounded when Julie spoke openly to a psychologist after she and Howard were found late on Tuesday.
"It's definitely not the ugly picture we thought it was," Ms Davis said.
She said Julie, a student at Mt Maunganui College, had explained her reasons for running away, and it was "a really long story".
"She just wanted to be able to see this person and we weren't having it. We never really understood the nature of this friendship they have.
"But I'm starting to understand it now, not that I think it's appropriate, but I see why she needed someone to talk to."
Julie was taken into Child, Youth and Family care after she and Howard were found in Rotorua, and her mother was initially scared to take her back, fearing she would run away again.
But she said Julie had wanted to come home and the family had wanted her there - and the 14-year-old had given reassurances she would not flee.
Howard, who befriended Julie at the Waingaro Hot Springs in March, has been charged with abduction and is due to appear in court on July 30.
He was bailed at his first appearance, and told reporters he was only trying to help Julie because she was suicidal.
Police warned that the case was a reminder to all parents to keep a close eye on their teens, but child psychologist Glen Stenhouse said adolescents ran away because they wanted to be independent and rebel from parental control.
"It's an intoxicating feeling of being able to make decisions for yourself and realising that there is a life away from home."
Dr Stenhouse said a relationship of some sort was often a motivating factor, but sometimes teens just wanted the excitement of going off and having an adventure.
"Kids who are more adventurous and who are more inclined to be thrill-seeking, and who are more easily bored - who have a lower boredom threshold - are the kids who are more likely to do this."
Julie's mother said her daughter was adventurous, strong-minded and "definitely a smart little cookie".
The 14-year-old is continuing to undergo counselling, and Ms Davis said although she was calm and happy, she was yet to fully comprehend the effect of her actions on others.
"I don't think she really realises the trouble that she's caused, and the heartache that she's caused. She's 14, you know."
