In a candid revelation that has resonated with parents across the UK, Giovanna Fletcher has spoken openly about one of the hardest chapters in her motherhood journey: supporting her son through Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), where overwhelming anxiety transforms a routine school day into an insurmountable challenge. The author, podcaster, and former I’m a Celebrity winner shared her story in a December 18, 2025, interview with Good Housekeeping, her voice breaking and tears flowing as she recalled mornings when her son desperately wanted to attend school — yet simply couldn’t take the step. “It’s not about refusing school — it’s about a little heart weighed down by fear,” she said, describing holding him close while feeling “powerless but present.” Her raw honesty has struck a chord with countless families, shining light on a quiet struggle often faced in silence.
Giovanna, 40, and husband Tom Fletcher (McFly singer) have three sons: Buzz, 11; Buddy, 9; and Max, 7. She revealed Buddy’s EBSA began in 2023, triggered by post-pandemic anxiety and bullying whispers. “He’d cry, cling to me—his tummy hurt, his head spun,” she recounted. Mornings became battles: pleas to stay home, promises he’d “try tomorrow.” Giovanna, drawing from her own anxiety experiences shared in her book Happy Mum, Happy Baby, sought therapy and school support, emphasizing “it’s illness, not naughtiness.”
Her openness has empowered others: #EBSAAwareness trending with 500k posts, parents sharing: “Finally someone says it—we’re not failing, our kids are hurting” (@ParentSupportUK, 80k likes). Experts praise her: “Giovanna normalizes EBSA—affecting 5% of UK children,” said Dr. Emma Citron.
Giovanna’s vulnerability reminds: motherhood’s hardest moments forge deepest bonds. Families no longer alone.
