Thank you for writing to me. I get the sense from your letter that you feel very isolated and alone.
You have told me that your mother is disabled with MS and it seems as though you are her carer and have a number of responsibilities for her and for your home. I was wondering if you had heard of ‘young carers’ and the support available for children in your situation. There are a number of web sites that may be useful, two of them are Young Carers and NHS Young Carers. Take a look at them and see if they provide you with any useful information. You may also want to look at the ChildLine message boards and see how other young people deal with being a carer.
I can see that you walk your dog everyday and you tell her about all of your problems. It is good to be able to express your thoughts and your feelings in a safe way for you. Some people write a diary, some people try to bottle it up and hold it deep inside. It seems as though talking to your dog is a safe way for you to think through what is happening and helps you cope with your situation. One thing that does interest me is when you say ‘because I know she wont say anything back to me.’ It feels as though this is important to you. It feels like many people are telling you what you must do and not listening to what you think you should do. The support you are giving your mother is important but never forget your own needs. You are important and your opinion is important.
If you ever feel like you would like to talk to someone, you are always welcome at ChildLine. You can phone 0800 1111 (calls are free) or use online chat. When you talk to one of the ChildLine counsellors, they will listen and they will not judge you.
Thank you again for your letter.
Take care,
Sam