I'm grateful, I am. I have a roof over my head, a husband who loves me and two beautiful children, but unless you have been on benifits you will never know the stigma attached to it. You're constantly bombarded with all the media calling us spongers, lazy, chavs, the reason kids are so badly behaved because we don't instill a work ethic into them, look at the whole benifits street chaos! Everyone thinks you're sitting about with a cigerette in your mouth, can of stella at 9:30 watching Jeremy kyle while the money pours into your bank account. Who are these people with all this money btw? I read about people on benifits getting thousands each month, how?! I'll never forget when they announced a £500 a week benefits cap and someone asked me how much I would lose, um NOTHING! God we don't get anywhere near that! Anyone who thinks we're well off needs to look at my 3 credit card statements I juggle each month (hope to be paid off by September lol) And then there's the fear, every time I get a brown envelope in the post I panic and think this is it, thats going to say he's not entitled anymore and they're gonna try and make Mark get a job which obviously he cant so I will need one to support us all but who's going to watch Mark and the kids while I do that?! My Mum says of course they won't as obviously he can't work but you read so much about Atos making people with no limbs or months left to live get a job so you never know do you.
But this is my life, and it will be my life until Mark passes. Now don't get me wrong when I say this I adore my husband but sometimes it feels like I'm just waiting for him to go. I can't work while he needs me and yes caring for him takes up a lot of my time but sometimes he just sleeps all day and I'm left sitting and thinking 'is this my life?'. I've been his carer since I was 22 years old and it feels like the kids are growing up and getting more independant but Mark won't he'll just get sicker and need me more so I'll just keep doing this until hes gone and the next phase of my life starts which will be god knows what.
The worst part is is that I did everything 'right' I got a job as soon as I could and saved every penny. I went to college and got good marks, I even won an award because I managed to do day college, night classes and hold down two jobs to ensure I could get into, and pay for university. Then I went to uni, I worked weekends, went to classes during the week and volunteered at night to put something extra on my CV to make sure I could get a good job. Which I did. By the time Mark and I got together I was working in a school helping kids who needed a bit extra due to disabilities or home life. He had a good job in retail so we were set. By the time Cam came along we were married, owned our own home and had savings just in case, everything was going to plan. Then Marks illness got worse. Fast forward to Cams second birthday and Marks been sacked, gone bankrupt and we're in a council house and struggling to make ends meet. Fast forward further to Camerons 7th birthday at the end of the month and things are much the same lol. I suppose I just feel like by 30 I really should know what I'm doing. you go to school to go to college, go to college to go to university, go to university to get a job, get a job to pay until you retire and then that's it. But what do I do? My qualifications are so out of date now they're useless and I can't get new ones due to cost and time so it's just a matter of plod along until the next phase comes then just get whatever factory or shop work I can find to get me through to the end. God thats a bleak outlook isnt it. To top off allllllll these good feelings , when Mark first got the transplant the dr said he expected it to hold out for 5 years until he would need a new one, well its 5 years this year. So on top of fear about benefits, fear about my sisters situation, general fear about my kids growing up in this crappy world I've got the constant fear Marks going to start losing his mind big time again and I don't know if I could cope with that a second time. :(
God thats a depressing post. I did warn you. Heres a cute picture of Scamp to cheer things up a bit.
With all the things you do and blog about - caring for others, helping out at school, fund raising etc you have a massive array of budgeting, planning, administration skills and so on that WILL BE of enormous use to you. Most of how you are feeling is just (just??!!) the ' 30 thing' - I hated 30 AND 40 and am now half way to the next big one! (No not looking forward to that either).
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration Gemma and I send you loads of hugs and wishes because you do have to be the strong one for so many in your family and who is the strong one for you when you need it? Let us be that because you deserve it.
You will not get stuck in a dead end job - your qualifications may be 'old but your life skills and experiences are a massive enhancement to that. I am determined this year to leave my current career (teaching for over 20 years) for a job where I feel I have time for my family. It is scary 'cos I don't feel like I am qualified to do anything else but when you think about all the things you do in your every day life/job you have lots to offer,
Louise x
Now listen here Missy, 30 is just a number! I was dreading mine but when it came it was "oh is that it!?!" You also have a lot more than I have! Your children are the nicest, politest children I have met, they are gorgeous and I want to steal them lol! We have children in the shop who are from wealthyish families and they are rude, naughty brats! What you are doing for Mark is amazing, not many people would have hung around.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots more I could say but I won't say it here. Sending you big hugs. Now turn that frown upside down and other cheesy phrases or I'm coming over to sort you out lol?, xxxxxxxxxxx
Awww Gemma hun, I think you are amazing and one hell of a strong lady, I am amazed you don't complain more often! Of course there will be some lazy people who do abuse the benifits system and people being people will always stereotype but anyone who knows you, knows that is definitely not the case with you. You are an amazing mother who does so much for your kids and Mark is so lucky to have you in his life. At least this time you know what to look for with Mark and can hopefully get things seen to faster and it might not get as bad as it did last time. Clearly you inherited all of the caring and common sense and your nieces and the future baby are just lucky they have people like you and your Mum around as good role models :) Don't fear too much Gemma, I think you are someone who can fight through anything, look how much you have done already, you just have to deal with things as they come and your kids are going to grow up to be strong wonderful people like their Mum. If all else fails just call Dean and Sam to beat the hell out of anyone who is bugging you ;) Lot's of hugs xxx
ReplyDeleteNicola - pregnant? Thud - oh no.
ReplyDeleteOf course, even the strongest people need some support - and that includes you. Just facing the reality, before you pick yourself up and start all over again, on a new day. Sending you lots of hugs. xxxx
Germma - there are people on benefits because they need them and then there are those on benefts because they know how to play the system. I know what you mean about being stigmatised but you need to hold your head up very high and be very proud of what you do.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you and yours xx