Hi, KW3
When my DD (extremely independent type) went through that when she was that age, I told my senior neighbor (age 88 or so at that time) because I was exasperated and nervous, and she suggested a plan that DD "run away" to her house (they were super cuddly friends).
When DD left the back door with her backpack on, I called the neighbor, she positioned herself to see (our yards were visible to each other) and I watched DD out the window, then snuck out to the patio until the neighbor, casually hanging laundry and "unaware" connected with DD.
Our neighbor listened with "oh, you poor dear" about DD's woes that I did not allow her any freedoms, DD got a glass of milk and a couple of cookies, was told that mothers have to do such things but isn't it just awful anyway?, and after about 1 hour, the phone rang that DD was coming back.
Once DD did this, it was out of her system and we never heard about it again. Got to be casual about it though.
Not everyone has a situation or a dear neigbor friend from a totally different generation, but maybe you could think about it and tweak it.
