The first few weeks of school were rough. Ever since Mara started kindergarten, she’d mostly stayed quiet. She’d sit on the rug during circle time, arms folded, eyes down. The teachers tried. The other kids tried. But Mara just… didn’t open up. At home, she was different—talkative, funny, full of curiosity. But at school, she became this shy, guarded version of herself. And I didn’t know how to reach her. Then one morning, the school counselor called me. “We’re trying something new today,” she said. “There’s a therapy dog visiting…
MY DAUGHTER WOULDN’T SPEAK TO HER CLASSMATES—UNTIL SHE MET THE DOG IN THE BLUE VEST
