Beth's Blog - Carer's Week 2023

There are an estimated 5 million of us in the UK.

This week has been carers week - a week to acknowledge and highlight challenges carers face.

It's hard to succinctly explain all that being a carer entails, whether in the past, present or future.

I cannot put into words the sheer mental, physical and emotional load being a carer places on ones shoulders.

We can't 'just' anything.

The carer's day doesn't really end, it blends, into the next.

We cram as much into the time - fitting in our caring and other responsibilities, whilst trying to have a life, care for ourselves and maintain relationships and social lives; or we miss out and become only 'a carer', isolated and exhausted.

I am a carer but I am that and so much more.

I am a mother first and always.

I make the best of what is sometimes a terrible, desperate and out of my control situation.

I do hard things every day!

Almost every single thing I do, or the reason I do it, or need to do it, is because I am a carer.

My responsibilities and the need to care for Jesse, my family and myself and to do what is right for Jesse and do the best for him and prepare for the future are never out of my mind.

Sometimes I scream, moan, cry and howl at the moon.

But most of the time I put on a brave face, try my best, keep positive, do things with love, a smile, a bit of tongue biting, a lot of swearing, huge amounts of sarcasm and a glass or 2 of wine.

I care.

Beth x