Hi, my name is Rosie.
I’m not sure when I started caring but my mum got ill when I was 3 and my dad before I was born. My mum has had burst vessels, and my dad has a bowel disease triggered by stress, so when my mum is ill, so is my dad. My mum stutters, forgets things and speaks without thinking. Me and my sister have a lot of chores to do, a small room we share and it can be stressful.
My life didn’t feel different for a long time. It wasn’t until I started speaking to my friends that I realised how different my life is. I don’t get much time to relax alone, or go out with my friends, especially when both of my parents are ill. I am under more pressure than my friends and I have to do more around my house.
My highs are how close it brings us as a family and the amount of cooking and baking I get to do. The lows are not being able to connect with friends, not being able to have people over because my mum needs rests, having chores to do like going and buying local groceries, and the arguments I often end up in.
I am a hyper person, so when my family are stressed, they get annoyed. I also struggle keeping up with school, remembering things and doing jobs on time, with my caring responsibilities being the main cause of stress. This makes me distance myself from friends and I have been struggling with anxiety and depression for a long time. I feel like I’m old and younger at the same time. Older because I have to care and younger because when I’m at school it’s like an escape: I can be as hyper as I want but I later regret my actions. I don’t get to go out much, I don’t have a social life outside of school, restricting when I can see friends and meet new people.
I also have osteogenesis imperfecta meaning my bones are weak and restrict what I can do, and meaning I have to miss school for hospital appointments. But school isn’t a perfect haven: I have been bullied in the past several times.
I want to help other people though so, even through all this, I volunteer to help the Y7s transition in school. I used to be in the 12-16 group at SYC and I recently joined Action Group to raise awareness and help others.