He didn’t answer. But the next morning, he called a therapist. The therapist suggested small wins. Day 12: Lily only had to walk to the school gate with me, not enter. We drove there at 8 AM. She sat in the car for ten minutes, crying. Then she got out, stood at the gate for 30 seconds, and got back in.
She said: “Lunch. I have nowhere to sit.”
I realized then: Parents of school-refusing kids often feel shame — like it’s their fault. But anxiety disorders aren’t bad parenting. They’re brain-based. Our parents were exhausted. So I volunteered to be Lily’s daily escort. Every morning, we’d leave home by 7:30 AM. No pressure to stay. Just show up.