School mornings don’t get worse on their own. When anxiety is driving the nervous system, even the right strategies can stop landing. Reassurance stops calming. Consistency stops helping. And mornings begin to unravel anyway. That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. It means something has shifted beneath the surface. This is what school refusal and school anxiety actually look like at home - especially for anxious kids, including many who are neurodivergent - when fear is running the show. And when that happens, effort alone won’t fix it. The nervous system needs safety first. If you’ve been quietly wondering “why is this getting harder when I’m doing everything right?” - you’re not behind. You’re at a signal point. This account is for parents navigating school refusal. From a (university mental-health trained) mum who’s lived it - and come out the other side. – Jules ❤️ #schoolrefusal #schoolanxiety #1stdayofschool