Hi @Mel73, I want to start by saying welcome to the Community!Seeking support can be a challenging thing to do, especially when your child is involved, and I want to commend you on your strength. I can see you care deeply for your child and what they are going through. School Refusal has become more common in recent years, and it can be a challenging thing for both the child and the parent to experience. I’m sure many parents and carers here can understand what you and your child may be going through. I’m wondering if you can tell us a little bit more about what’s been happening for your child? Supporting your child with school refusal, whilst also balancing communication with the school and your other competing demands must also be having an impact on your life also? I wanted to share with you the story of another parent whose family has also gone through school refusal. We also have a discussion from a psychologist on school refusal you might find interesting. ReachOut also has a range of articles on school refusal you and your child might find helpful. One delves into the experience had by a teenager with school refusal, and the other touches on what school refusal is and ways to help teenagers navigate it. Please let me know if you find anything helpful in these resources. I was also interested in how you are feeling about this situation? I’m wondering if have found any ways to help you navigate this and whether you have support from friends or family? The community is here to support you and your child please don’t be afraid to connect with us to share more about what is happening for your young person. ... View more

Hi @wifeandmumof4  Welcome to the forums! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Sharing these things is never easy, you’re doing a really great job of looking after your family its incredible to see. I can understand how stressful this must be for you, and while taking care of your family can be a top priority. I wanted to ask how you are coping with all of this? Are you able to find any time to look after yourself and your own wellbeing? I understand that this may seem silly to do when you’re worried about your stepson however the best way to support others is to first support yourself In relation to your son our articles and resources might be targeted towards teens but we would be more than happy to provide you with some links to other support options such as the Raising Children Network and Parentline as well 1800 RESPECT may have some resources you might find helpful. Please don’t be afraid to Reach Out if you need anything the online community is here for you and your family. Also keep an eye out for an email we are sending your way ... View more