Carers Stories > Time

Time

Christmas is over but the panto season continues. Another year of caring ends, that's four so far, yet seems like forever. How did things change so much?

Trying to stay positive and upbeat, making the best of a situation when the reality is tiredness and constant responsibility. Endless days with hardly any respite or contact with others, no freedom. No magic services saying 'well come in, we'll take care'.

No magic Fairy Godmother waving a magic wand saying, ''You will go out, you can go on holiday, you will have some time to yourself''. No clocks to watch, no worries, no cares.
Time to enjoy.
Time to 'be'.
Time to think.
Time to sit.
Time to mix.
Time to relax.
Time to be a person, not a carer. A non-person.
Time away from four walls, the television, the repetition, the same old routines and restrictions - instead of time at home, one minute feeling hopeful, the next hopeless.
What would I have done differently?
I honestly don't know.
I know that I would have still 'cared'.
My 'cared for' isn't the problem, the lack of care provided to support us is.
I count my blessings - give thanks for the people who do support us. Thoughts and prayers go to the 'ordinary' people out there who gradually or suddenly found themselves in the category of 'carers'.
There are many of us.
You are not alone.