Lucy’s Story
‘Art can help you forget about everything else and have fun. Everyone needs a bit of time out for themselves.
When Lucy and John’s son died, they didn’t hesitate to offer support to their daughter in law and baby grandson. Lucy and John often cared for Daniel on weekends to help give his mum some respite. After a few years, they realised their daughter in law needed greater support to raise Daniel. In agreement with Daniel’s mum and Children’s Services, Daniel moved in with Lucy and John.
With John at work each day, Lucy soon found that her life was changing. As Lucy says, ’I sometimes feel like I don’t fit in because I don’t fit in with my friends anymore. I don’t think people understand other than other Kinship Carers. We don’t get a lot of support’.
Since John has retired, life has become a little easier. Although Lucy says, ‘We are forgotten as Kinship Carers. It can be difficult to think you’re on your own.’
Lucy often goes to a local beauty spot to see the ‘lady on the swing’. As Lucy says, ‘As a Kinship Carer that’s how I feel at times, lonely and just out swinging on a limb. There’s nobody there for me’.
When Lucy and John’s son died, they didn’t hesitate to offer support to their daughter in law and baby grandson. Lucy and John often cared for Daniel on weekends to help give his mum some respite. After a few years, they realised their daughter in law needed greater support to raise Daniel. In agreement with Daniel’s mum and Children’s Services, Daniel moved in with Lucy and John.
With John at work each day, Lucy soon found that her life was changing. As Lucy says, ’I sometimes feel like I don’t fit in because I don’t fit in with my friends anymore. I don’t think people understand other than other Kinship Carers. We don’t get a lot of support’.
Since John has retired, life has become a little easier. Although Lucy says, ‘We are forgotten as Kinship Carers. It can be difficult to think you’re on your own.’
Lucy often goes to a local beauty spot to see the ‘lady on the swing’. As Lucy says, ‘As a Kinship Carer that’s how I feel at times, lonely and just out The Lady on the Swing swinging on a limb. There’s nobody there for me’.
