Elizabeth, Zak, and Lucy respond to a parent whose 7-year-old has developed intense separation anxiety—panicking anytime they’re apart, even with another parent nearby. The fears center around monsters the kid hasn’t seen, but hears about at school. So what do you do when reassurance stops working and fear takes over the routine?

But first, we’ll circle up for a round of check-ins: Elizabeth recounts a fireworks fiasco, Lucy faces down her daughter’s back-to-school worries, and Zak’s planning a very special birthday.

And on Slate Plus recommendations for parents and kids alike, everything we turn to when anxiety hits.

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Separation Anxiety in Overdrive