Something is very fishy with this story. Glad you got on the flight but an unaccompanied minor is not allowed to do standby. They had to have had a seat on that flight and the GA has almost no way to unseat them without a very good reason.

As for why she didn't call you and went to #3 thru #8 - no clue. Were you still showing as #1 after your wife cleared at the gate?

-RM