I'm really struggling letting Dd walk to school alone

[changingcars]

She's in year 7 but an august birthday so is one the younger ones. I'm really struggling with letting her walk to school alone and not worry. I find myself in work worrying all day about whether she got to school okay. I know it's my own anxiety but how do I deal with it? It's so hard. School is only 10 mins away across 2 roads, I'm not even sure what I'm worried about

I’m not in your situation but I actively planned my food shopping trip today for a certain time to avoid the droves of children that walk home from secondary school at 3 pm, and parents with younger children from the primary schools. They cause many hold ups at crossings what I’m saying is she will most likely not walk most of the way in isolation where something dramatic could happen and no one notices. Morning or afternoon it’s a busy time of day. I’m sure she’ll be fine.

I find myself in work worrying all day about whether she got to school okay.

You'd have heard, surely, if she hadn't?

But, and I mean this kindly, as she gets older it won't just be school journeys. She will want to be out and about with her friends at weekends and in the holidays, taking buses and trains to go a bit further afield. You will need to get to grips with this, or you'll be living in a constant state of anxiety, and maybe even passing your anxiety on to her. Can you see your GP or find some relaxation or meditation techniques that work for you?

@changingcars

She's in year 7 but an august birthday so is one the younger ones. I'm really struggling with letting her walk to school alone and not worry. I find myself in work worrying all day about whether she got to school okay. I know it's my own anxiety but how do I deal with it? It's so hard. School is only 10 mins away across 2 roads, I'm not even sure what I'm worried about

It is very hard.

I dropped dd to school but let her walk home. She had to call from the home phone.

You will get more used to it.

How old is she, 12? I think you need to deal with your anxieties - does she never go out with her friends without you, go to clubs, out on her bike? What are her friends doing? How will you cope when she wants more freedom?

If she didn't turn up at school, they would phone you within minutes. Could she text you when she's arrived each morning?

Download the Life360 app. You can see where she is and it alerts you when she gets to school.

I would say don't download apps or get her to call etc because these things only feed the anxiety (if she lost or forgot her phone or if she decided to walk with a friend and took longer than usual for instance) and you're there constantly checking for updates.

Does she walk with a friend? If so, she's not alone and so can help each other if there is an issue.
If she isn't walking with anyone, you could ask her if there is anyone she'd like to walk with? Don't force it, just enquire.