Anonymous
05/16/2026 12:02
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid is 13 and crosses roads just fine.
OP youve started this late but it’s not too late.
If you go out to eat, have her order her own food, if she needs help in a store, have her ask herself.
Come up with errands you need her to run for you, that force the independence, like going in the grocery store, getting a couple of things then checking out herself,
Why doesn’t she have any friends? What does she do after school and on weekends?
OP She does order her own food, and asks for help in stores. She’s scared to go shop by herself, but we’re working on it. She usually forgets how to swipe the card when at the cash register.
She doesn’t have any friends because she feels content without any. She prefers to be alone and doesn’t see the need for friends, and she doesn’t like going out/hanging out with people. After school and on weekends, she does her activities, and she comes home and watches TV, or reads books, or spends time with family.
She forgets how to swipe a card? What’s to forget - you just swipe. Things aren’t adding up here.
I can send my 11 y/o who has ADHD to the grocery store with a credit card and they have no issues. Something is very wrong here.
Anonymous
05/16/2026 11:09
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid is 13 and crosses roads just fine.
OP youve started this late but it’s not too late.
If you go out to eat, have her order her own food, if she needs help in a store, have her ask herself.
Come up with errands you need her to run for you, that force the independence, like going in the grocery store, getting a couple of things then checking out herself,
Why doesn’t she have any friends? What does she do after school and on weekends?
OP She does order her own food, and asks for help in stores. She’s scared to go shop by herself, but we’re working on it. She usually forgets how to swipe the card when at the cash register.
She doesn’t have any friends because she feels content without any. She prefers to be alone and doesn’t see the need for friends, and she doesn’t like going out/hanging out with people. After school and on weekends, she does her activities, and she comes home and watches TV, or reads books, or spends time with family.
She forgets how to swipe a card? What’s to forget - you just swipe. Things aren’t adding up here.
Anonymous
05/16/2026 11:03
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Op something is off here. My 12yo middle school kid crosses a 4 lane road to get to her bus stop. An almost adult should have figured this. You need to evaluate and teach independent living skills before you end up with your 20s kid living in your basement.
Anonymous
05/16/2026 10:05
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Anonymous wrote:My kid is 13 and crosses roads just fine.
OP youve started this late but it’s not too late.
If you go out to eat, have her order her own food, if she needs help in a store, have her ask herself.
Come up with errands you need her to run for you, that force the independence, like going in the grocery store, getting a couple of things then checking out herself,
Why doesn’t she have any friends? What does she do after school and on weekends?
OP She does order her own food, and asks for help in stores. She’s scared to go shop by herself, but we’re working on it. She usually forgets how to swipe the card when at the cash register.
She doesn’t have any friends because she feels content without any. She prefers to be alone and doesn’t see the need for friends, and she doesn’t like going out/hanging out with people. After school and on weekends, she does her activities, and she comes home and watches TV, or reads books, or spends time with family.
Anonymous
05/16/2026 06:51
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
My kid is 13 and crosses roads just fine.
OP youve started this late but it’s not too late.
If you go out to eat, have her order her own food, if she needs help in a store, have her ask herself.
Come up with errands you need her to run for you, that force the independence, like going in the grocery store, getting a couple of things then checking out herself,
Why doesn’t she have any friends? What does she do after school and on weekends?
OP youve started this late but it’s not too late.
If you go out to eat, have her order her own food, if she needs help in a store, have her ask herself.
Come up with errands you need her to run for you, that force the independence, like going in the grocery store, getting a couple of things then checking out herself,
Why doesn’t she have any friends? What does she do after school and on weekends?
Anonymous
05/15/2026 22:53
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Anonymous wrote:Check vision before anything else.
Excellent point! Please do this, OP.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 22:37
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
This seems like a troll post. This can’t be serious, especially with OP’s strange and terse responses.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 22:24
Subject: Re:Too afraid to cross road alone
OP. There was a crossing light.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 22:17
Subject: Re:Too afraid to cross road alone
It actually sounds like she figured it out on her own just fine. I bet if several more times with a friend she would gain the confidence to do it on her own.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 22:10
Subject: Re:Too afraid to cross road alone
Anonymous wrote:There’s a crossing light, surely? If there’s not, no one should be crossing there; and if there is, presumably she will figure this out.
OP said the road is busy, but nothing about lights. A 17yo who won't cross at the light is different from one who won't cross four lanes of traffic without one
Anonymous
05/15/2026 21:58
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would have her evaluated for anxiety and autism, OP. This is not normal for a 17 year old. Having no friends is a very obvious red flag for autism, and autism almost always comes with some form of anxiety.
Why the need to assume & constantly say autism on every post? OPs kid could just be scared, if its her first time.
If it's her first time CROSSING A STREET? Give me a break.
OP, did your daughter seem upset about the whole thing? Does she want more independence? Is she going to college?
Anonymous
05/15/2026 21:54
Subject: Re:Too afraid to cross road alone
There’s a crossing light, surely? If there’s not, no one should be crossing there; and if there is, presumably she will figure this out.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 21:23
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Anonymous wrote:I would have her evaluated for anxiety and autism, OP. This is not normal for a 17 year old. Having no friends is a very obvious red flag for autism, and autism almost always comes with some form of anxiety.
Why the need to assume & constantly say autism on every post? OPs kid could just be scared, if its her first time.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 21:09
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Well, ideally this would have happened before you had a 17 year old. Little late. This is going to sound snarky but I am deadly serious. Hand her a map and and about 40 bucks and drop her off in Dupont Circle or something and tell her to meet you for dinner at the Wharf. Shouldn't be a problem.
Anonymous
05/15/2026 20:06
Subject: Too afraid to cross road alone
Check vision before anything else.