Life Is Hard But We Make The Best Out Of It
12-17-years
I’m Tara, I’m 13 years old and I care for my brother and mum.
My brother Caelan is five years old and has a very rare disability called 22q. This affects nearly all of his body from fine motor skills to speech delay.
I care for Caelan by helping him get dressed, help him with running/jumping, improve his speech and lots more! I also help him with his pain attacks in his legs which keeps him awake screaming. We try and rub his legs and he takes a bath sometimes to help.
I also help care for my mum who has very severe mental health issues. She has anxiety and depression. She also has really bad knees and back which means she struggles to walk and can’t run around with us. At night I help rub cream on her to help with the pain and make sure Caelan isn’t in her way.
Life is hard but we make the best out of it.
– Tara
Tara was a gift card recipient in our 2018 ‘Me And My’ National Carers Week Competition.
read more
I Help Care For My Brother
12-17-years
My name is Jarrod, born in 2002 and now 16 years of age. At the end of my first year in kindergarten, my brother Cayden was born and I became a young carer. My brother contracted the virus Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the womb which resulted in him being born with severe autism and profound hearing loss. Since then I have had to learn how to juggle my studies with my caring role. My caring role includes putting him to bed, helping teach him what the therapists want, toilet training him, making meals for him and feeding him. More recently, my family and I have tried to reduce his cheekiness, teaching him not to lock us out of our devices and not to grab people in public places.
In retrospect, I have absolutely no regrets about my brother being who he is today, in fact it has led me to connect and love my brother more than I would have otherwise. Being a young carer has definitely led me to become who I am today, teaching me how to manage my time more efficiently, be more patient and care for people better. As a young carer, the programs I have been involved with in the past two years have allowed me to meet and create lifelong friendships with others.
– Jarrod
Jarrod was one of our gift card recipients in our 2018 ‘Me And My’ National Carers Week Competition.
read moreLani’s Story
12-17-years
I am 17 years old and I care for my mother who is bipolar and has severe arthritis in her knees and hips. I think I have been caring for my mother since I was 11 or 12 years old – there wasn’t a definitive time that I became a young carer, the role just started being incorporated into my life.
I care for my mum in various ways. It might be getting her to go to appointments, helping with the shopping, cleaning, cooking or cracking a great joke or two! I also provide general help where needed. In my free time I enjoy studying, cooking, watching Netflix, doing something creative and educating myself.
As a YC, I think patience and understanding are necessary virtues. It’s hard to sometimes comprehend why your life is so different to friends or other people you know, and why this is your life. There are a lot of moments of frustration and anguish as a YC, but there are a lot of great moments as well and sometimes those are what help you through it all. I struggle with doctors, friends and my community failing to recognise my role, which I feel makes my achievements as a YC somewhat null and void. There can be a lot of confusion because I am a carer but I am also a teenager who struggles with depression and anxiety. I think people don’t realise that while I do struggle with those issues, I can and do also thrive as a YC. I’ve learnt the necessary skills to deal with my issues while also helping mum. I’ve managed to become a person who has some form of high functioning depression and anxiety, but I don’t think people can see that or understand that and therefore don’t recognise myself as a carer and don’t recognise my mother as needing help.
The best thing about being a YC for me is the incredible bond I have with my mum, because we have dealt with the bumps together and the highs together. Another great thing is the valuable skills and strengths you gain from being a YC: patience, kindness, understanding, acceptance, a killer sense of humour, amazing cooking skills and independence. While being a YC seems like a bummer at times, the positives outweigh the negatives.
read moreI Care for My Mother
12-17-years
I am 15 and I have been caring for my mother since I was 9 or 10 years old. My caring role started when she had a heart attack. Ever since then her health has got worst. She has had another heart attack and different skin conditions and only recently her kidneys gave in and she almost died. Her diabetes doesn’t help her situation.
I have nurtured her in and out of health, I have handled her wounds and helped her learn to walk again. I have tried my best to raise my little brother, who is now 11 years old. I have tried my hardest to be strong and smile every day to give him hope.
Mum doesn’t stop surprising me with her scares and tricky situations. I have spent more time in hospital chairs then I have in my own couch at home. My situation became harder when mum and dad separated 2 years ago, although dad never helped with mum or raising my brother. Since dad left I have single-handedly moved houses twice. Mum can only just drive still. It becomes harder each day. My life outside of caring is limited as normally I spend most of my spare time cleaning or sleeping. I have only just recently got a job to help out with the expenses of my education and keeping food on the table. Mum is unable to work and her only income is a disability pension which can only just keep us going for the week. My work money helps me buy food and seasonal clothing for the 3 of us. Caring never stops, even when I am at school I think about mum and whether she is doing okay at home. Some days I stay home and help her. I try to attend school as much as I can.
My ability to juggle work, school, study, caring and social time has drastically improved over these past few months, although some nights I do not get to sleep until 12am. I wake up at 7am and cook and help mum get ready for the day. Being a carer has helped me learn vital skills like time management and meal preparation. I have also learnt many skills in the field of medical care which has helped me choose my career path: I want to be a nurse. I have 3 years left of school.
Caring is one of the hardest things I have done but I wouldn’t change life one bit.
– Alison, aged 15
read moreKelsie’s Story
12-17-years
I am 16 years old and the majority of my caring role is in relation to my little sister, who has an intellectual disability. My sister was diagnosed when she was 4 and I am 3 years older, so technically I have been a young carer since I was 7 years old. However, there were other people I was caring for before that so I cannot place a definite age/year.
As a carer I mainly complete household chores (cooking, cleaning, etc.), help my sister with any speech therapy work and her homework. I assist with the general running of the household and provide emotional support. I love to spend my free time hanging out with my friends, reading, drawing, going to CrossFit at the gym and finding new recipes to cook.
The three main tips I would give to other young carers are: to be honest with your friends about your caring role, talk to a teacher and give yourself time to chill out. Your friends can be a massive source of support and are often there to help you out wherever they can. Spending time with your friends can be a great way to take a break from the stresses at home. Teachers can also give you support in relation to your studies. School is a very important part of our lives, so to have someone there who can support you can be a massive help. As our lives can get quite stressful, it is very important to take time for ourselves. Chilling out can help us navigate the pressures of life. It is important to find a passion that you can immerse yourself in; whether it is music, sport or art.
The biggest challenge I face as a young carer is finding time to complete schoolwork. It can be difficult to slot in time for work as each afternoon is unpredictable. Although, this has given me the strength of time management and I find that I don’t procrastinate a lot (I take every opportunity to complete tasks). The best parts about a young carer are the personality traits you develop and the knowledge you gain. Being a young carer has made me resilient, adaptable and a problem solver. We get a real insight into healthcare and a variety of other fields. The unique situations we’re in help us to gain these skills.
read more‘The Life of a Carer’ – Young Carers Count Competition 2017
12-17-years
In 2017, we ran the Young Carers Count Competition asking young carers why they count and what makes them so special.
This was one of the runners up entries, submitted by Faith.
There
is
a
thin
line
between
thankfulness
and feeling sorry for oneself.
Sometimes one crosses that line
into the plateaus of sorrow
and sometimes
they cross the other way
emerging into the
valleys of gratitude.
Such a description
is the life of a carer.
No two days are the same
in the life of a carer.
It’s impossible to predict
the ups and downs
because
it’s
a
chaotic
entropy
in which you cannot tell
what will happen next.
Missed parties,
Missed gatherings,
Missed school days
Cooped up at home.
Endless, wistful musings of
“Why can’t my life be like hers?”
Slowly, loneliness creeps out
Of the soul’s bleak depths
Making one realise
How life could’ve been.
On the contrary,
opportunities for self growth
sprout at every turn
of this winding path.
It is then
an experience to be
thankful for
grateful for
as one blooms and grows
knowing the full capacity
of their inner strength
The uncontested
power of love
is realised within oneself.
Love is what conquers
love is what allows
the courageous carer
to overcome the flaws
of the person they care for.
The triumphs
and heartbreaks
amalgamate
combine
meld together
to create a glorious tapestry
of smiles and tears
greatly enriching
the life of a carer.
Sometimes reading other people’s stories can make us feel many emotions including; inspired, sad or stressed. It is important that we all look after ourselves! Please remember that if you feel like having a chat about how you are feeling, you can contact the YC team on 1800 242 636.
read moreMy Mum Has Severe Unipolar Depression
12-17-years
Heya anyone who’s reading this, I’m 16, almost 17, and my mum has severe unipolar depression. She gets really bad depressive episodes at least once a week, where she will go quiet for many days, recluse herself in her room, answer in monosyllables; stare into space blankly for long periods of time. It’s hard watching her go through life like this, but on top of that she has a personality disorder so it’s really hard to connect with her emotionally; she blows up at me a lot and yells at me and tells me I’m a bad kid and calls me all sorts of rude things. I’ve learnt to brush it off, but just a little shout out to anyone out there living with a parent with a mental illness who is abusive: they can’t even love themselves, let alone love another person, so maybe just give them a little space; let them vent, and don’t take anything they say that’s bad about you personally. They are fighting a war with themselves in their own heads. Don’t let it get to you. I’m here and this community’s here, we’re all going through some crappy times but keep your chin up and keep moving forward. I believe in you, we believe in you.
– Young carer, age 16
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My Sister Has Asperger’s Syndrome
12-17-years
Im 17 years old and I care for my younger sister who has Asperger’s syndrome. She is 10 years old. Because of her Asperger’s, she experiences social challenges and often has unusual behavior. She is different from other children in that she struggles to make friends her own age because she does unusual things. She likes to lick glass and doesn’t like to wear clothing. She also likes to act likes to act like an animal and often does similar things to what a toddler does. It can be hard to look after her sometimes because she doesn’t fully understand my instructions. She can take some things very literally, and doesn’t understand that we are joking. To look after my sister I have to make sure she is showering and doing her homework. I also make sure I know where she is at all times because she may hurt herself unintentionally. At times it can be stressful and I do worry when she’s out of my sight. It also upsets me when other children tease her because she is different, when she doesn’t understand and I support her through that. My sister has taught me lots of things and these things are important when looking after someone with Asperger’s. She has taught me patience, lot of patience! She has taught me to love even in the hardest of times. At times she can say cruel things, but I have to remember she doesn’t mean it and the cuddle I get at
the end of the day, along with the smile on her face makes it all worth it.
– Young carer, age 17
read moreI Care for My Dad Who Is a Stroke Survivor
12-17-years
Hey guys! I’m 14 years old. I care for my dad who is a stroke survivor. I like to read and play with my 5 year old sister in my spare time. I’ve been a carer for 5 years, my dad had a stroke in 2008 when I was in Year 4.
Since I was quite young, when my dad first had a stroke, I didn’t realise the full implications of the situation. I was only 9 at that time and I didn’t remember having to help too much around the house. My sister was an infant back then and I remember having to look after her when my parents went to the hospital for check-ups. Nowadays I help with the chores such as cleaning, babysitting my sister, providing emotional support for my dad and basically lending a hand when needed.
I think that the main thing is to find a balance between social life, sleep, studying (if you’re a student)/working and caring. Try finding a coping mechanism that works for you. For me I focussed on studying. I think the biggest challenge for me as a young carer is to accept that this has happened and moving on, turning stress into success. But there are perks of being a young carer too such as knowing that you are making a contribution to your family, developing life skills that most people your age do not possess and being a mature young adult or as my mum would say ‘wise beyond your years’. Stay strong and remember, ‘life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.’ ― Charles R. Swindoll
– Young carer, age 14
read moreI Care for My Mum Who Has Breast Cancer
12-17-years
Hi! I’m 15 years old and I care for my mum who has Breast Cancer.
I’m a really musical and creative person and I love to write songs and sing whenever I get the time.
I’ve been a young carer for about 10 months now and I didn’t actually realise how far I’ve come until recently.
It was a struggle at first trying to cope with school, housework, cooking and homework and still have time for my music and myself but now it’s just become an everyday thing that I just try and get by with. I’ve learnt to get by just a day at time and take baby steps until things get better.
One of my biggest challenges was trying to cope with both my own emotional difficulties as well as mums. I think that if I could give anyone else advice it would be… to take baby steps! I found it helped me so much in coping with everything.
Throughout this whole experience I found out so much about myself and my mum which I think has helped me developed life skills and helped me understand the people around me a lot more! 🙂
– Young carer, age 15
read moreOur Dad Has a Drug and Alcohol Dependency
12-17-years
I’m 14 years old and I live with my mum and younger sister who is 9 . We care for our mum who is in a wheelchair but we also care and assist in providing emotional support for our dad who has a drug and alcohol dependency. Due to our dad’s drug and alcohol dependency it got to a serious point where he was removed from our house therefore no longer living with us but we still visit him and that’s where we still care for him. Living with a parent, family member or friend with a drug and alcohol dependency is very challenging and at times scary. My dad’s behaviour was unexpected and tended to affect not only himself but our family, neighbours and friends, causing anyone who was around him to become frightened. He often had mood swings from being really happy at one point then really angry. Most of his parental responsibilities were passed on to my sister and I. Drinking up to 3 bottles of alcohol a day he was very tired constantly wanting to sleep and sit around. Alcohol has its consequences on people unfortunately my dad got in trouble with law by drink driving and stealing, this caused us a lot of emotional stress. It is important to know that you’re not alone, that helps a lot. We are lucky that there are support services such as the Young Carer Program at Carers NSW and The Kookaburra Kids Foundation. Being a young carer is tough but the best thing about it is meeting new people along the way. I’ve had the opportunity to share my story with people at my school and other professionals. This has given me a great confidence in myself and encouraged me to keep going. Our advice is to make sure you seek help as soon as you identify a problem.
My Dad is seriously ill,
So he has to take some pills,
So it can help change his mood,
Or else sometimes he can be rude,
Most of the time he is sad,
Or just really mad,
Sometimes I wish he could,
Always be good,
Since he is an alcoholic he always wants a drink,
Does he even stop to think?
Is it because he doesn’t care?
It’s really not fair,
I wish he could get better,
And that’s why I wrote this letter!
– Young carer siblings, age 14 and age 9
read moreI Care for My Mother Who Has MS and My Sister with Downs Syndrome
12-17-years
I am 16 and I care for my mother who has MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and my sister with Down syndrome. During my spare time I tend to connect pencil with paper, drawing mainly in the Anime/manga genre style. I have been a young carer for as long as I can remember, always caring and being the big brother my sister needed and wanted me to be. My caring role towards my mum however has increased over the past 4 years.
When it comes to my caring roles for my mum it involves all the common chores; dishes, rubbish, cleaning the house, cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry, mowing the lawn and taking care of the pets. Aside from chores I also care for her when she becomes quite unwell and sick in bed. If I am home at the time I will then regularly check to see if she needs anything, whether it be a glass of water, hot water bottle, bucket or her medication. At the beginning of the year I received my license so I have also started to drive my mum to places and get the things she needs at times when her legs aren’t supporting her.
Tips I’d give to other young carers looking after someone with Multiple Sclerosis would be to always stay calm and collected when times become frustrating. I find the biggest challenge about caring for my mum with MS would be the loss of her short term memory, because it continually makes planning events difficult, along with handing in school notes on time. The best thing I see about being a young carer would be the experience, responsibility and independence I have gained over the years.
When I went to the Young Carer Leadership Program, I originally wasn’t sure what I would gain from it, but when I was leaving on the last day I felt that I had learnt a lot. I felt I had further increased and fine-tuned leadership qualities, along with being able to speak about what I wanted in a clearer manner. It was also excellent to meet other young carers who shared the same story or had a similar story to tell and relate with. The support and friendships that I made on the leadership program are also worth noting, being able to express to the other young carers what pulled me down in my caring role, and have them understand and help bring me back up was really amazing.
-Young carer, age 16
I Care for My Brother and My Dad
12-17-years
Hi! I’m 15 years old and I care for my Dad who has Motor Neurone Disease and my brother who is Autistic. I really like crafts, music and reading in my spare time. I’ve been a carer since I was about 3 or 4, which is when my Dad first started struggling with Motor Neurone Disease. Motor Neurone Disease, or ALS as it is known in other countries affects a person’s ability to control their voluntary muscles and stops their involuntary muscles like their breathing and heartbeat from working properly, which can make this disease deadly. My Dad has a very rare form of the disease which means his involuntary muscles work perfectly fine, but he has difficulty moving his voluntary muscles. This means he is in an electric wheelchair and has difficulty speaking clearly. He communicates by typing on an iPad. Dad is pretty independent. He still works and gets around in taxis and on the train by himself. I help him with things around the house like looking after my brother, helping him reach things, helping him with cooking, adjusting his technology and I also sometimes make phone calls for him. The biggest challenge about being a young carer for me is always being on the go with lots to do. Sometimes I can get a bit overwhelmed by all that’s going on and forget to take time out.
My tips for others young carers for people with MND are to always treat them like you would treat anyone else. Don’t forget that just because they are limited by their disability, doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun with them. It’s really important to remember to have time to yourself and get a break sometimes. While there are lots of things Dad’s disability prevents him from doing, there are lots of things he can do and we enjoy doing together. We particularly like going to the cinema, taking our dog for a walk and going out for pizza! I’m so lucky to have such a great, supportive Dad and I love him very much!
– Young carer, age 15
read moreMy Dad Has Biploar Disorder
12-17-years
He doesn’t know me
He doesn’t really care
But deep down i know dad loves me
He just doesn’t show it often
Dad has biploar disorder
He can never think straight
He doesn’t like the help he gets
When dad is on a high he’s funny
But when he’s on a low, he sleeps
Highs don’t come that often
I wish he would listen to my day at school or look at the picture i drew
He might be proud Or not
I wouldn’t know…
But i love dad with my whole heart
He is my father after all
And i help him as much as i can
I love my father very much
I just wish he was normal…
– Young carer age 15
read moreThe Toughest 3 Months I Have Ever Been Through
12-17-years
Well im 15 almost 16, and im probably going through the toughest 3 months i have ever been through. I’ve gone from having the best life too having a life that no one would ever want, my mum is very ill and has been for seven years now! The last 3 months have been terrible for myself and family, 3 months ago my mum was walking around and doing her own thing. that now she cant even walk. I can see myself that my mum is slowly deteriorating. She can barley use her hands and has such a struggle to walk. Two months ago my mum got rushed to hospital, and both me and my brothers witness my mum having a seizure. worse thing too ever see! Seeing your own mother go through that is the absoulte worse.
Last week my mum got rushed again for having a tingling feeling in her back and her feet and yet again the other day my mum broke her wrist. Things keep getting worse and worse as days go on! life is getting really hard Looking after my mum, doing the washing, cooking every night, dressing my mum and too top it all off im trying to finish year 10, & there’s another problem trying to figure out who my real friends are and who my fake friends. All i want is supportive friends but i feel as if i have none.
-Young carer, age 15
I’m a Carer for My Mum
12-17-years
I’m a carer for my mum. She’s had Parkinson’s Disease for most of my life, but in the last few years, it’s gotten a lot worse. Some days she can barely move without help, but other days she moves erratically and can’t control her movements. My dad takes on most of the responsibility and housework and my older brother (19) doesn’t really help and is very stand-offish. I’m in Year 9 at the moment, and things began changing about 6 months ago. I started to feel upset and stressed a lot of the time and I knew I wasn’t handling everything. My friends at school had been having lots of fights within the group and it was threatening our friendships. We all had to pick sides and it was putting pressure on everyone to deal with the stress. Around July I started to get lots of physical symptoms of panic attacks, stomach problems and weight loss. After a few months, I finally decided to go to the doctors and we talked through everything that was happening. She prescribed some medicine for the more physical problems and suggested that I go see a therapist. I’ve now been seeing her for around 7 weeks and it’s really helped a lot. Almost all the feelings of panic and anxiety had gone now and I can handle the stress a lot easier. I’ve become better at making more time for me and being easier on myself. I really wanted to say to anyone who may be feeling really overwhelmed and stressed that it’ll get better and if it becomes too much then to get help from someone you trust. xxx
– Young carer, age 14
read moreI Can’t Imagine Life without My Mum
12-17-years
I’m 14 and i care for my mum.
My mum was diagnosed with non-hodgkens lymphoma 8 years ago, about 5 years ago test found that she also had a brain tumour, since then she has had a cancer behind her ear which was cut out 2 years ago and last year she had one cut out of her throat. About 6 months ago everything went downhill pretty quick, to where she can’t walk anymore and has no strength so she can’t hold anything. She had a seizure in front of my sister, brother and me, of which i had to call an ambulance. Since then we have had to call an ambulance twice for her having troubles breathing and being unable to hold her self up/ quite weak. She is getting worse and worse as the days go on and is starting to have a little trouble breathing and also has been sleeping a lot lately which i know isn’t good. Yesterday she changed all of the bill to under dads name. Dad and mum sat down yesterday to write a living will saying that she doesn’t want to have an oxogen machine helping her breath or a gastro machine because she wants to die in peace, which i have mixed feeling about because i don’t want mum to shorten her life span but then again she doesn’t want to die in pain, which i can understand as she has been in pain 24/7 for the past 6 months. Today I’ve been think about it and i can’t imagine life without my mum and I’ve only really thought about it all today that she could go at anytime. I love my mum so much and couldn’t imagine my life at all without her and i don’t want to.
I love you mum xoxo
– Young carer, age 14
read moreMy Mum Has Been a Chronic Asthmatic for Most of Her Life
12-17-years
My name is Montanna and my Mum has been a chronic asthmatic for most of her life. She has at least once a year she has a hospital admission for at least two weeks where when I was little my brother or relatives would look after me, these few years I have had to support myself while she is in hospital because my relative lives in Sydney whereas I live in Taree. For the past three years on her hospital admissions I have had to support myself, luckily I have a job but doesn’t make it much easier. This year has been one of her worst she has been in hospital for over a month, I am studying my HSC while trying to look after myself at home, manage the expenses such as bills etc. and get myself to work, school and dancing. It hasn’t been easy and have to apply for Centrelink now. It has been tough but as the main carer in my household it has something I have slowly been getting used to!!
– Young carer, 17 years old
read more
My Dad Has Schizophrenia and Has Had It Ever since He Was a Child
12-17-years
With my dad having a mental illness I have met a lot of people and made lots of friends.I have also learnt a life lesson, this lesson is even though someone might have a illness or disease, it doesn’t mean that they can’t live life to the fullest or achieve their goals and dreams. Even though my dad has schizophrenia it hasn’t stopped him doing what he loves best, helping the community.He is a volunteer firefighter and has been for 9 years, he is the president of my schools parents and citizens association, and was the president for the parents and citizens association of the local primary school for 3 years.
He also raises alot of money for breast cancer because my mum had it. He is on the 24 hour fight against cancer committee which raises funds for the local cancer unit, and a pallative care unit. He also helps my mum organise and hold a mini field of women event in october, since last year. He is in the process of starting a support group for people with schizophrenia, then he’s going to learn more about other mentall illnesses to support all people with mental illness in the Macarthur district.
I am very proud of him because even though the last few years have been hard with my mum getting breast cancer, he still puts alot of time and effort in to helping the community. I just want people to know that just because someone has a mental illness or other disease it does not stop them living life to the fullest and achieving their goals and dreams, and they are very intelligent people like my dad. They are just a regular human being living life. We are all different in our own way.
Young Carer, 14 years
read moreKasey’s Story
12-17-years
hi im kasey im 17 and am a young carer i have looked after my mum since the age of 12 i have an older sister she is now 18 but she said mum was a freak then soon after left and moved to nans. my mum sees people that arent there she hears voices coming from the fridge and thinks im going to poisen her when i give her the pills, its hard being only 17 and working 38 hours a week i used to wish i was like normal kids and have no one to care for but i would be bored as, im greatful that god gave me the mum he did i love her so much and even though she kicks me out she calls me when there is washing and cleaning to do. the main idea of this post is i went to a camp at burrendong dam and i felt normal i felt like i could go home and someone else was somewhere else doing the same thing it feels good to be normal. Kasey, aged 17
read moreMy Sister and My Brother
12-17-years
My sister is mentally disabled, one of my brothers is slightly autistic and the other is extremely dyslexic, and I’m me. I’ve had a good life don’t get me wrong, but its been hard, I’ve always had to be responsible and take care of my sister while my mum was helping my brother and my dad was usually at work. But I don’t mind, people always ask me, isn’t it hard? And yeah it is but it’s worth it, My sister is my life, I think of her more like a daughter, she even calls me mum sometimes! I love her more than everything and wouldn’t trade my life with her in it for anything!
Young carer, 15 years
read moreI Have an Excellent Mother
12-17-years
What I want people to know about the person I care for is that just because she is different does not mean that she is crazy or psycho. She may have a mental problem but she is still as good as everyone else is and she is an excellent mother of three children, me, my sister and brother and I wouldn’t want to change her for any one.
Young Carer 13 years
read moreMy Granny
12-17-years
9yrs old heart still shining cant believe i’m still not whining, sitting their in the car seeing my future from afar.
11yrs old and complaints are common, still just thinking whats after mopping, hoping family will help us soon. we havent seen them since last june.
13yrs of my life have passed, sitting their in the bath, i hear my nanna calling me , i’m outta the bath by the count of three.
15 now and nearly grown , grannys in hospital and i dont know whats wrong , i am sitting their filled with worry, is this the end of her long story.
17 now and grannys gone, standing their on my own front lawn, i still talk to her now then, but sorry to say this is the end
Young Carer, 17 years
read moreI Care for Both My Parents
12-17-years
I care for both my parents, they both need alot of help that both my sister and I give them but it is mostly me because my sister is always off doing her own thing. My Mum has a brain disorder and suffers from depression; she is almost always falling over. All my friends are supportive to me when I need to talk but it is still really hard. My dad is also suffering from depression and a little bit of memory loss, which I think, is from all the tablets he has taken. See he used to be a drug addict and has been in and out of a drug rehab place. All this has also caused me to go into a depression and have many times thought of committing suicide. My dad has now moved out to sort himself out because he has done so much that has hurt my Mum and us.My sister has also just got sick that is even more stress on everyone.
I got through depression because each time I felt like I was going to harm myself I either thought of all the things that was worth living for and all the people I would hurt if I did. Another thing I did is I prayed to god for help and each time I prayed for help to not hurt myself he did help me and I never did end up harming myself. God has been a big part of me still being here. My mum and sister have also been a big part of it as well.
Some advice for all of you feeling the same way don’t be afraid to talk to somebody whether it is your mum or father or school counsellor talk to someone it will help a lot. Everyone is always there to help and if you do get help you will feel much better and will get through a lot easier.
Young Carer, 15 years
read moreI Went on the Laurel Hill Riverina Camp
12-17-years
hey i went on the Laurel Hill Riverina camp last year and i just wanted to say thanks to everyone for making camp so much fun.
I loved abseiling and the high ropes even though i was sooo scared of heights. I really enjoyed them because everyone was so nice and very encouraging.
i also enjoyed the chat groups and talent night.
thanks to all the camp leaders who made camp enjoyable for everyone and a HUGE thanks to all the other young carers. it was great to find out that there were other people in the same situation as me.
Also thanks to my cabin mates for all the laughs and fun we had together. U r the best .
Tab 🙂
Young Carer, 14 Years
My Brother Alex is Terminally Ill
12-17-years
My brother alex is terminally ill, he will probably not live past ten maby twelve. He cannot walk, talk, eat or see. His disease is called leukodystrophy.
It dose sound bad and is but you learn to live with it he is still my bro and I LOVE him so much!
I would do anything for him,
I found out that my lil bro was terminally ill when I was about 5, 6years old I was devastated but I learnt to live with it. Like you do with most new things in your life. Not many things changed I always thought of him as a baby that never grows up just get heavier each year.
I have always loved him and always will, I have never lost hope in him in whatever he dose. Its when I got a bit older is when I realized what was happening, like when I was little I didn’t understand much and to be honest I didn’t really care as you do when you are young. About two years ago I began to get a bit sad but I have been getting stronger and stronger each day.
It was just recently that he had to go in for a re-hip constructor; I thought it was great, I thought it will make him better and everything will be ok. But I soon learnt it wouldn’t be. He came out of surgery and stayed in hospital or a week and was atached to many difernt machiens sometimes five at a time. I would have seen him but I hade school.
When i came home he was home, and I went to say hello and kiss him I realized that could not move properly infact at all. I was sad and I asked how long he would be like that. Mum said for about 6, to 9 months I was shocked, because I new he did not have much longer to live and he was now almost 8.
The main thing I was concernd about was that I may not be able to do all of the things I used to do with him, like play and kiss and cuddle.
I was talking to mum most of the night and she said to go and see a councilor and I didn’t really like to talk to people I didn’t know, but I did for mum and my brother and also myself. I had a long chat and cried she even cried to. It was good to talk to someone that I haven’t before, I thought it would have been awkward but it’s not (after bout ten min.) And now I am writing a letter for many people to see.
I know that there are many children and people suffering from all different things in the world and im no different but I just want to say we know how you feel.
I have been sad about this whole thing with my brother but as I have before I am learning from mistakes in helping him because he cries during the night and hurts all the time I am learning to be gentle with him with great care.
And I will learn to adapt to this new situation in my life as I have before and I will learn in months to come when he will pass away. But in either situation I will always ALWAYS love him with all of my heart
This is a poem that my mother wrote to my brother:
Strength and wisdom
I watch each day seeing him struggle
His eyes don’t work so he has to fumble
He can’t sit so he lies on the floor
He’s lost the ability to speak anymore
The legs don’t work and hang quite limply
His mind is clever but works very simply
He has such strength and inner beauty
He gurgles and laughs like a real cutie
He loves simple sounds like a knock on a door
He’s a big boy now hes over four
He empowers us all with love and innocence
I often draw strength from this essence
One of his favourites is to cuddle and kiss
But when his time comes this I will miss
For my beautiful child will leave us all
Giving us the wisdom to carry on tall
xxsarahxx
Young Carer, 13 years
read moreJimmy
12-17-years
Jimmy means a lot to me, he is my World. You see, Jimmy is my 13 year old brother, the youngest out of the three kids in my family. Jimmy was diagnosed with autism when he was 3, which is a disorder which impacts upon the intellectual, social, and emotional development and intelligence of the person affected. Jimmy’s autism is pretty severe. He is not properly toilet trained, he cannot talk properly, he needs to attend a special school and requires assistance in getting dressed, bathing, even eating sometimes. He requires a special diet free of gluton and lactose, and he is often moody and is subject to extreme highs and lows. The lows often consist of violent behaviour where he screams, cries, kicks, punches and causes damage to my house and his posessions. The highs consist of hysterical laughter, hyperactivity, and loud squealing and shouting. Jimmy is rarely in between- he is generally one extreme or the other. He needs constant supervision and relies heavily on routine, a trait significant to autistic people. If this routine changes, he becomes frustrated, confused and irritable. Sometimes, especially lately because I am in Year 12 and doing my HSC, Jimmy frustrates me because he needs so much care and attention and often his noisy behaviour and his special needs become so demanding and tiring. Sometimes it stops me from being able to complete my homework and obtain adequte sleep which is important in Year 12 because the last thing I want is to fall behind. Sometimes I also worry about my future and Jimmy’s because as the eldest child I feel so much responsibility for him and once my parents are gone, I will need to take care of his affairs. I am at a stage in my life where I need to consider my career and future and Jimmy is one of those extra things other kids my age don’t have to worry about. I have experienced depression for about 5 years now and this often goes hand in hand with caring for an autistic person. But knowing how much Jimmy needs me gives me the strength to march on through it.
On a more positive note, Jimmy is one of the most sweetest, beautiful people in my life, his smile lights up a room and I could not live without him! He is different to other autistic children in the sense that he engages with me and the rest of my family and even shows a bit of affection towards us- often autistic people don’t do this, they act as though they are “trapped” in their own World and show little acknowledgement of the people around them. I get angry when people stare at Jimmy or mke fun of him, because I know how much work he puts into and how much work my family puts into creating a better life for him. People don’t realise how special he is. Autism can affect anyone, it could have just as easily been them.
I think it is hard to sum up Jimmy in a few paragraphs, and it is also hard to sum up what it is like to be a young carer. Jimmy is pretty full on, and his needs are always changing but it is about being able to manage my time and recognising my own needs as well as his. Jimmy makes me different to other people and he has meant that I have had to grow up a lot faster. Even though sometimes this means I feel a bit isolated from my peers because my responsibilities are so different to theirs, I also feel proud because I know that I am a mature person who can deal with difficult situations. Jimmy has made me more tolerant. I think an important aspect of being able to cope with being a young carer is finding someone to talk about it with and open up too. There is nothing to be ashamed of and sometimes a neutral person who is outside the family unit can really help. This year I have managed to find a really good teacher who has helped me out a lot with my school work and just my feelings in general and this has meant the World to me. Because you spend every second thinking about your responsibilities in regard to the person you care for , what you need to do when you get home, what they need, what they want and how you can make them more comfortable and sometimes you forget to take care of yourself. It’s important to have someone who can remind you that you matter as well!
Young Carer 17 years
read moreWhen I Was a Kid…
12-17-years
When I was just a kid I asked my Mum a question about my brother who has Down Syndrome. “If Jeuan has Down Syndrome and can’t talk, would that mean if he had ‘Up Syndrome’ he would be able to talk?
I quoted these words exactly as I remember them. They have stuck with me so long because after I asked my Mum she laughed and said “Good thinking Declan, you’ll always remember those words.”
Young Carer, 14 yrs
She Is My Hero and I Love Her Dearly
12-17-years
Hey guys, I’m Amie as you’ve probably read. Im sixteen years old and I care for my younger sister who is ten. Since my sister was born she hasn’t lived a day without pain. She was born with a rare genetic disorder, which causes un-normality features, and has traits that has caused other things to make her even sicker. Although along with this we have lived a pretty cruisie life together. She can’t walk, talk, feed herself, or anything like that. But we have a special bond that is irreplacable, and we still get to do special things together like sisters should be able to do. But September last year, things came crashing down. My sister went in for leg/feet surgery, and to this day she is still in hospital. 5 months later and she continues to fight for her life. Because of the trauma of the surgery doctors believe it has triggered a medical disorder that we didnt know she had, and because of this she is now in regression, and beginning to deteriate. But all of this has not chan ged her personality, or who she is. She has fought so hard her whole life, and you can see it in her face she is determined to keep going. As I’m sure things are bound to get worse, but because of her and her courage i wouldnt be the person I am today, she is my hero, and i love her dearly.
– Amie, young carer, age 16
Thank you so much for sharing your story wtih the YC Community. Your sister sounds like an amazing girl and she is very lucky to have a big sister like you in her life. If you ever need to talk or would like to find out about what exta support is available, dont forget you can call us on 1800 242 636 or simply email yc@carersnsw.org.au.
Take care,
the YC Team
Emma’s Story
12-17-years

Hi… Well my name is Emma… I am 16, i have been caring for my dad ever since we were in a huge car accident, in 2002.. i was 11… i was fine but my dad has a really bad back and really bad knees…from it. Because he is unable to do the things he has always wanted to with his only daughter he is always up set and he gets very sore, and doesn’t want to talk to anyone not even me… we have been close ever since my dad and mum got divoresed in 2000 .. i live with my dad and i love him to death and wouldn’t change anything in my life. I am not saying that it is really good but just because i couldn’t bare to loose my family.. my family is the best thing in my life my sister and brothers always try and help me when they can , and when they c me once a week or once a fortnight but no-one actually knows what i am going through. So i just wanted to share this to let you know you are still able to do stuff maybe not as much as your friends but … you can get help… if anyone else knows what i am going through please post a message. – Emma, aged 16
read moreEveryone is Different
12-17-years
I am their lifelines
I love them so
They can get annoying
But i still love them
They have autism
They dont know
What it is
That is wrong with them
They know they are different
They can see that
Its not like they can change
Just like that
When they talk
You have to listen
They are important
Just like me
I help them out
They know I love them
When we talk
I like to listen
I’d like to say that everyone
Is different
But their special
To me anyway
I love them so
Sometimes I need them
But most of all
They need me
Joshua and James
You are my brothers
You are so special
I love you both
You listen
When I talk
I listen
When you talk
When you get angry
You know I’m here
I’ll help you
You know it too
I love you both
More than I can say
This is for you
Forever each day
(Dedicated to my brothers Joshua and James. Even though they are autistic. I love them) – Young Carer, aged 15
read moreCaring for my Sister and my Dad
12-17-years
I help care for my sister who has a mental illness called schizo- affective disorder and severe depression and my dad who has diabetes, heart problems, sleep apnea, and had a hip replacement earlier this year, not to mention all his other illnesses that I can’t remember.
My sister has been sick for about 2 and a half years now but she is starting to get a bit better. She still has good days and bad days but most of the time she is pretty even.
My dad has been sick for about four years now. His illnesses mean that he has to go and see specialists in Melbourne every 6 weeks or so. His hip replacement means that he wasn’t able to drive for a while. He can’t walk very far or very fast and is considered disabled.
I also have a younger sister who helps but as she is younger she doesn’t do as much work as I do. We all do r work around the house and help care for each other. As my older sister is sick I tend to do most of her work for her and also help to do extra work so that my parents don’t have to do it all.
I love to cook and I see cooking meals as a way of helping to relieve mum and dads workload. I cook several times a week but I enjoy doing it most of the time. I also help with everyday chores like washing and cleaning.
Most of the time I don’t see my caring role as a burden. Until I was told I was a Young Carer I had no idea what they were or that they even existed. I thought that what I was doing was the same as what everyone else does. I do help more around the house than my friends do and I am more responsible and mature but I think this will make me better prepared for life than my classmates.
Through being a carer I have also made some wonderful friends whom I can talk to about anything. I attended Camp Rathane this year and it was a great opportunity to make new friends and to have a break from my caring role. I also learnt some very important life skills. Thank you to everyone involved in making these camps happen.
– Young carer, aged 15
read moreMy 3 Brothers
12-17-years
Hi my name is Jessica and I am 15. My family life is very difficult as I have more than one person that I have to look after. I am one of the primary carers for my 3 brothers. Although they are autistic I know that they care about me and when my friends complain about their annoying siblings I just wish I could do something to show them that they have it fairly easy.
My mum says that we have it easier than some at least the boys can do things for themselves.
J* who has just turned 12 is in year 7 has just about annoyed me to the point of not return.
Just because he is now mainstreamed he thinks that he is allowed to bug me for money and stuff from the canteen.
My other brother is struggling with school too. He has been suspended and has had 5 detentions in the past 2 weeks.
N* is a worry, he can’t read properly and even though I love him he just antagonizes everyone.
I love my family and my brothers but sometimes I just wish that they would disappear.
I am wondering how many more people feel this way?
– Jessica, aged 15
* Names have been changed
read moreEmpty Spot
12-17-years
I’d luv to live a normal life
but at the moment my family’s in strife
i luv to chill and hang with my friends
but at the moment my friends all have boy friends
young carers has helped quite a lot
it has filled that empty spot.
– Young Carer, aged 12
read moreMy brothers have their problems
12-17-years
my brothers have their problems, but i am forever grateful of them they have showed me that not everything in life is fine and dandy.
My mum always said that through my brothers i will see that the world is not all as it should be, and i now know that.
I am proud of them all they bring light into the darkness and they know that i love them.
I find it hard to do anything with them around but then i remember that they have feelings too, that they need to learn how to grow up and how to be normal kids.
My friends don’t understand how i feel they always say why cant you come out or why can we never come over they don’t have the burdens of siblings with disabilities and they never will, they never try to listen when i tell them why.
When my mum used to take my brothers shopping with her she always felt self conscious and never did much, but eventually she got fed up of people commenting and staring and she made these cards that said “My boys are autistic and they cant control themselves and neither can i unless you want to try and deal with them then stop pointing and making comments because you are making things worse”, this made people stop very fast.
I always thought that was strange but now when i look back on it i can see that it was something that my mum had to do.
Going to school, working and trying to have a life is very difficult especially when you put it with caring for 4 people in your house hold but i guess that i kinda enjoy the excitement at times but at other times i just want my brothers and my mum to disappear.
– Young Carer, aged 15
read moreMy brother John
12-17-years
I have a brother his name is John. He’s autistic and artistic with shaving cream. He loves to dream about the wiggles and he likes to giggle, he is sneaky and very cheaky and I fight but in the end it’s alright. He is funny and cuddly as a bunny. John loves high five which makes him jive.
I am in the middle, Cassie the oldest and John the youngest, the baby of the family. He can’t talk, but he loves to walk. We have the best mum in the world and she is never glum.
I know my brother John has a disability but he can do things to the best of his ability, John is my brother, and you see he can be annoying but that’s how things are meat to be.
– Rebecca, aged 16
read moreShe has made me who I am
12-17-years
Im Annalise, I’m 16. i have 2 brothers (22, 19) and My sister G* who is 14. G* was born with a rare mitochondrial disorder called Pyruvate Dehydrogenese Deficiency. i love her to death, because she cant communicate she has a high pitched squeal and a yelp to tell us she needs something.
Usually she just wants music or a new movie, but its hard to live with the fact she doesn’t i everywhere we go.
Even though her disease is life threatening we have still had the courage to take her overseas, (America, Disneyland) (Oman, Middle East 6 months)
We enjoy our time with her.
She has made me who i am
Young Carer, aged 16
* Names have been changed
read moreMy mother has BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)
12-17-years
My mother has BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) She has had several suicide attempts and is an emotional alcoholic. She has been going on a downward spiral for about six years now and I’m almost 17. She relies on me to be her sole career as she has on, off relationships with those around her. If someone is having a problem, she believes it is a direct cause of her or she is hurting more than they are. She then distances herself from them and continues her depressive cycle. My mother also has several incurable health conditions such as IST (Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia) and severely low blood pressure, lung conditions, bleeding conditions, blood sugar conditions and so on. She has just recently been getting slightly better but it was short lived as yet another family situation took control over her and she has now lost control over herself. SHe doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of other people and their feelings towards situations and it’s very frustrating. I live with my 19 year old sister and cousin and they also have mental conditions, as have I. Although reactionary to these issues, they are no where near as severe as that of my mother’s. We all love her dearly and are at a loss as to what to do. I wish i could make her okay. I wish i could take her pain away and i wish I could go back in time when we still lived in New Zealand and none of these things were happening within the family. I want my old mum back. It’s kind of sad to miss someone when they’re right there in front of you.
Young Carer, aged 16
read moreMy Brother Jack
12-17-years
I really love my brother,
He’s the best there ever was,
And even though we weren’t born here,
We still call our home OZ,
He was going really well through school,
No problem at all,
And then he started to howl and scream,
Just from a simple fall,
At first the kids were worried,
Concerned that he was hurt,
And then they saw a tiny graze,
And a scratch upon his shirt,
But to Jack the graze was painful,
He needed a bandaid straight away,
“And what about the shirt?,
What’s Mum going to say?”,
And then, from that moment,
They all thought he was wierd,
And then they tried to think of something,
Something that he feared,
Then they started to tease him,
And he started to cry,
Then he lost his temper,
And punched them in the eye,
He dug his nails into their back,
Until they broke away,
And tried to kick them between the legs,
He’d really make them pay,
And then the teacher interviened,
And pulled him off the kid,
Sat him down in a chair,
Made him think about what he did,
Then he was overwhelmed,
He really started to cry,
“Mum’s going to kill me,
I am going to die”
Then the teacher called me over,
To find out what was wrong,
So I told the teacher,
“It was them all along”,
But other times this happened,
If he got into a fight,
Jack would get into trouble,
‘The other kid was in the right’,
Then this would happen all the time,
The kids would try to tease,
They would get a reaction,
And I’d be saying “Please,
Please don’t annoy my brother,
He’s just like me and you,
He’s a human being,
He has feelings too”,
But they wouldn’t listen,
And of course, Why would they?,
They’re just little kids,
They don’t know any better, anyway,
Now Jack’s in year 6,
He doesn’t get teased as much,
But sometimes they do,
‘Just a little touch’,
It just really annoys me,
That they treat him how they do,
And that I have to keep saying,
“He’s no different to me or you”.
– Young Carer, aged 14
Caring for B*
12-17-years
I think the hardest thing about my sisters disabilty, is the fact that we dont know what it will do to her in the future.
Hi I’m Niomi and i care for my older sister b* who is 18. She is undiagnosed, in a wheelchair and mentally a 5 year old, its hard because doctors don’t know what she has, her feet turn in and if they aren’t elivated they go purple, but if she is too hot her legs cant cope. B* is basically parrilized from the waist down. i have to help lift her from her wheelchair to the car, bed or the lounge. its hard physically and mentally. and its also hard on my parents but she also has moments where she can go from calm to being really angry. Sometimes i wonder what she would be like without her disabilty, but i also know she wouldn’t be B* then. I love her for all that she is.
Niomi, aged 16
* Names have been changed
read moreWhy i wrote this Letter
12-17-years
My dad is seriously ill,
so he has to take some pill’s,
so it can help change his mood,
or else sometimes he can be rude,
most of the time he is sad,
or just really mad,
sometimes I wish he could,
always be good,
since he is an alcoholic he always wants a drink, and he never stops to think, cause he does not care, its really not fair, I wish he could get better, that’s why I wrote this letter
(dont worry he understands the letter)
Rose, aged 13
read moreLosing Someone You Love
12-17-years
At the age of 10 my mum was diagnosed with breast Cancer. My dad took good care of her and was always looking out for her. I lost my mum in may last year after a 7 year battle with various cancer. I took care of my younger brother and my older sister. Losing my mum changed the way in which I approach life and how it affects my day to day life. I feel for all those who have lost a parent or a sibling.
Young Carer, aged 17
read moreI Love Them Both More Than Anything
12-17-years
I have four siblings, two brothers, two sisters, I live with my sisters and my mum. A* is 7, R* is 4. A* is extremely intelligent, loving, caring, honest and kind. She likes pokemon, maths, reading facts about the world and facts that are solid. Real. Tangible. She is in year two and school. A* is autistic, and often she comes home and doesn’t say anything; but occasionally, when things are really bad, she will tell me about what the kids at school said to her. The worst thing is she doesn’t realise that they’re not being nice or funny. That they’re being downright cruel and nasty. Because A* is autistic she finds a lot of things difficult, she doesn’t have a lot of the problems other autistic people have because she is so smart, however, she still does have problems. She has a phobia of chips, both crisps and hot chips, often if we’re at the mall we will get trapped in the food court because she cannot find a way to get around them. She doesn’t like seeing people eating them, and has called them ‘thingys’ in order to try and circumnavigate the idea of saying the word or thinking of them. She is very set in her routine and will blow up if there is the slightest variation in it. On top of all of this she suffers from extreme anxiety, and is unable to grasp the concept of fiction. However, she is extremely loving and caring.
My other sister R*, who is four, is one of the sweetest kindest kids I know, R* has extreme delayed speech and will be travelling to Sydney later this year to visit a cerebral palsy specialist to confirm her diagnosis. She goes to an early intervention preschool two half days a week, and a mainstream preschool 5 days a fortnight. She finds this very taxing and tiring as it is a lot of school for a young person. She also has a great deal of frustration with the fact that her mainstream preschool do not understand her at all.
Because my mum is a single mum I often find that I am left to take my sisters places, or babysit them, even just looking after them when mum is home. I find this difficult, especially as I am in year 11 this year and the work load has almost doubled to what is was last year.
I have struggled with depression and the problems that can come with it, but I try to keep a grip on it so as not to affect my sisters whom I love very much. Despite the fact that it is difficult to live with and care for two young children with disabilities, it can be rewarding. And I love them both more than anything.
Young Carer, aged 16
* Names have been changed
read moreA Poem on Paper in Pencil
12-17-years
A poem on paper in pencil
Is all it was meant to be
Not carved not typed not re-written
A poem on paper in pencil
Is all it was meant to be.
A poem on paper in pencil
Means something too special to me
A poem on paper in pencil
Is all it was meant to be.
Young Carer, aged 13
read moreMy mother has severe depression
12-17-years
My mother has severe depression and post traumatic stress disorder. I feel terrible for resenting her for her own mental illness, but the fact that she has drawn so much life from my family infuriates me at times.
I am from a large family, and the fact that my siblings rely solely upon my father and myself to care for my mother also upsets me at times. It is so difficult, as many of you reading would surely know, to watch a person whom I once respected decline in such a way as to be such a huge burden upon my family. Every day, I see my father become more exhausted with the burden of supporting my mother and I can see myself going the same way.
I have changed so much of my life plan to accommodate caring for her and she remains oblivious and ungrateful, and despite knowing that this lack of gratitude is due to mental illness, I still find myself resenting her.
I simply wanted to make this post as I am aware that it is not only myself who feels this way. Recently, in speaking with other carers, I have found that this mantra of ‘it’s difficult but so rewarding’ that has become so ingrained in our psyche is often so false. I find very little reward in caring, but it is something that I do because I respect the value of family.
So, for those of you out there who feel the same, know that you are not alone. Stay strong, and believe that one day it will get better. It is that belief that gets me through. I hope it can do the same for you.
– Young Carer, aged 17
read more
He doesn’t know me
12-17-years
He doesn’t know me
He doesn’t really care
But deep down i know dad loves me
He just doesn’t show it often
Dad has biploar disorder
He can never think straight
He doesn’t like the help he gets
When dad is on a high he’s funny
But when he’s on a low, he sleeps
Highs don’t come that often
I wish he would listen to my day at school Or look at the picture i drew He might be proud Or not
I wouldn’t know…
But i love dad with my whole heart
He is my father after all
And i help him as much as i can
I love my father very much
I just wish he was normal..
Young Carer, age 15
read more
I love being a young carer!
12-17-years
I’ve always been mature for my age, even when I was very young. It may have been because I am an only child, maybe it was because I never had any friends, or maybe it was because I grew up in a single parent household with a disabled parent.
When my mum was 15 months old she had a stroke which left her paralyzed on her left side. I’ve always know I had to be patient and understanding when it comes to things that my mum is unable to do or simple things she needs help with.
When I was about 10 my mum was diagnosed with a skin disease called psoriasis. Then when I was about 13 she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This effects every part of her body. She went from being one of the most independent people I know to needing help with almost 75% of things she does daily. From doing the chores around the house to helping her dress, to brushing her hair and Giving and reminding her about medication.
I guess why I’m telling you all this is so you understand what I go though on a daily basis. Ill admit that I’m probably not the best young carer and sometimes i don’t understand how to handle it, but I’m doing my best and getting better at it everyday. I love helping the people I love most, I love knowing that I’m making a difference but Most of all I love being a young carer!
Young carer, aged 17
read moreThe Truth Behind the Lies
12-17-years
I can smile, like you can
I can act, like you can
I can laugh, like you can
But you could never care like i can.
I see you at school, looking at that boy, looking at you; and think; how could be so selfish?
I see you at school, applying your make up in the mirror; and think; how could you be so blind?
I see you at school, ignoring the teacher and think; how could you be so naive?
I see you at school, doing your hair; and think; how could you be so vain?
I can smile, like you can
I can act, like you can
I can laugh, like you can
But the truth is, mine are all fake.
But if you push past my lies you’ll still find that you could never care like i do.
My brother Connor is 14,
Hes in year 8,
He wants to be a policeman when he grows up, His favourite colour is red, He hates peas, And hes autistic.
I cant smile, like you can
I cant act, like you can
I cant laugh, like you can
Because i worry all the time.
Where is he?
Who is he with?
Are they hurting him?
Is he hurting them?
Is he OK?
And it still remains, that the truth behind my lies is this; You could never EVER care like i do…
– Young Carer, aged 17
I love my family so much
12-17-years
I love my family so much. They love me just the same. But my family is different to other families. When my younger brother was born I was two years old. He was born deaf and with verbal dyspraxia. But luckily my family fought against these misfortunes and managed to get him talking and listening like anyone else. But when he was six years old he was diagnosed with Aspergers. I didn’t understand this at first because I was only eight at the time; I had no idea what it was or how it could affect my family’s future. When I first realised that this would have an effect on me was when he was repeating everything he heard while I was doing my homework. This swerved my concentration. I couldn’t see what the reason was for this. I got stressed and started to cry, then I realised that my brother is not going to get better. Sure he can get better with in the aspergers but he can’t get out of it. It was a tough time; my ballet helped me through these times. When I was born the doctors had to resuscitate me back to life several times. So they thought I was going to be in a wheel chair with no ability of movement or speech for the rest of my life. But I, most certainly showed them wrong; I was doing competitions in ballet. It saved me through the worst. It was something for me.
I have a sister as well, who is eight. She loves to sing and sports like netball and swimming. She also has learning difficulties and is trying to work through them. She tries to help too, but because she is eight prefers to just muck around. My baby brother was born when I was eleven years old. He was diagnosed with Autism at two. This was the start of the years that I became a full on young carer. I have to help take care of him a lot. He doesn’t act like other kids. He kicks and screams over small things and doesn’t understand others feelings. I would do what anybody would do with a child. Feed him, put him to sleep, teach him, play with him and of course love him. Life does become a bit of a pain because I do have to live my own life every once in a while. My parents are brilliant people. I would feel the worst if I didn’t help. My parents try their best to help my siblings; they just need that small third person to help out. I finished ballet the year my baby brother was born because I felt that my family needed the money and support to help my siblings through appointments. Whenever I feel like I’m just going to burst into tears it normally helps if I do something for myself. Like the computer (not always recommended), draw and basically do what I feel comfortable at the time.
The parts I look forward to the most is my brothers humour, my sisters sportiness and my baby brothers over enthusiasm. School is not a place of peace for myself. Since I suffer from dyslexia, school really reminds me of my flaws. How bad I am at such simple things. My dyslexia is high functioning but nerveless it still hurts me. The only two subjects I’m good at are art and drama. A good portion of my friends at school do not understand what is going on at home. Some people don’t even want to understand, they just think that I stress over nothing. But I’m very lucky to have my parents, my siblings and the young carers group because I know that they will be there for me. They teach me strength and give me comfort that I’m not the only one dealing with this problem.
Brittany aged 14
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My Mum
12-17-years
my mum has her days
but i still love her
she is the one who loves
and cares for me
she cares for me
and my four brothers
when the one that are autistic
go off the racks she is there
my brothers have their
problems
my mum has her days
but i love them
my mum is my mentor
my helper
and my friend
i always will love her
mum i love you
youve probably never heard this but
i really really love you
Young Carer, aged 15
read moreMy Brother
12-17-years
Hi, I care for my disabled brother, he has Mowat Wilson syndrome, Hirschprungs disease, congenital heart defects, epilepsy and lung disease. He is 20 years old. Although he can’t talk or understand much, what he does understand is love. He claps, he laughs and most of all he hugs as much as possible and his happiness definitely rubs off on people. He used to be able to eat and his favourite foods were hot chips, yogurt, chocolate and pizza shapes. He was always fed his nutrition through his button but since last year, when his lungs collapsed multiple times, they put a tracheostomy in his throat to breathe through so he cannot eat the things he loves and is fully fed through his button. It has been a rough time since then as the hospital tried to force him into a care home about half an hour away from the house without my mother’s consent. But anyways, he requires around the clock care so my mum stays at home and is pretty much awake all night and asleep all day, but it depends because his sleeping patterns vary.
I guess being a young carer doesn’t feel ‘heroic’ to me because it has been like this my whole life. But sharing my story feels weird, and a little self-victimising because there are obviously many people in a much, much worse situation to me. So I like to volunteer for things. When I grow up I want to live in a cob home or yurt, surrounded by nature and be less wasteful. Because I feel bad about how many plastic wrappers, food and many other things we waste in our house. I love my brother and I wouldn’t change anything about him for the world. Except the tracheostomy, because he loves his hot chips. Thanks for reading this story.
Young Carer, aged 13
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