My CarersWeek 2017

It's nearing the end of Carers Week 2017.  My week has been like many others, full of highs and lows, based mostly on the highs and lows of my kids.  I have three kids and although I'm 'mum' to all three, I'm also a parent carer to my sons Anthony, age 9 and David, age 6.

I'm their carer because I am someone who "cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support."  You may claim that a nine and six year old can't cope without support anyway, but the help and assistance I give my boys goes well beyond that required of a typical child their age.

For Carers Week, I'm sharing a week's worth of my 'caring' (Mon-Fri).  Two posts each focus on my boys (a high and a low) and the last is really about me, taken from the last year of caring.

• On a Monday (23rd January 2017) David and I were recovering after spending the previous night at an over night sleep clinic at Evelina's children hospital. into hospital.  When your child has no idea what's going on, helping them can be difficult. Read about my Monday as a carer in  'a sleep clinic with a small autistic boy.'

• On a Tuesday (10th January 2017) David showed how he was amazing, but perhaps not in the way people would think.  See about my pride in my son in 'To the parents who thought my child was a genius.'  

• On a Wednesday (26th October 2016) Anthony found it difficult to cope when tiny things were different in his day. See how we tried to help and prepare Anthony for things but how it can still go wrong on a Wednesday in 'Two changes of direction, two write offs.'

• On a Thursday (30th June 2016), Anthony made me extremely proud.  He showed me how he was aware of his difficulties and took responsibility for them.  Find out why I was happy on a Thursday in 'Why my autistic son would have a great father.'

• On a Friday (2nd June 2017), I realised how difficult I found it to think about my sons' future - what will happen with them and to them, and how I'm worried about not being prepared.  Read about a recent Friday as a carer in 'Dare I think about my autistic sons' future?'

This year Carer's week are continuing their focus on building communities which support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own. In these communities, carers feel recognised and valued.

I hope you've enjoyed a glimpse into my Carers Week.  How was your week?