To accept I'll have to give up work for a bit

[aloneinthenight]

DS (13) was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago.

His treatment plan is long and quite intense, certainly for the next few months.

I run my own business. It's not massive but I have a couple of freelancers working for me and I bring in the business and deliver some of the projects.

DS is missing large amounts of school and we have lots of Hospital appointments. DH is trying to work from home more to help out, so I can go into work.

I just don't have the energy. I'm emotionally and physically exhausted. We didn't have a holiday this year and the summer was incredibly stressful. I feel like I have nothing left.

But at the same time I don't want to give up on my business and need something to return to when DS recovers. And we need the money.

I can't think straight and don't know what to do. Half of me thinks that I should be kind to myself and focus on DS.

The other half of me thinks I would be letting everyone, and myself, down if I threw it all in, and should force myself to drag on.

Tell me what to do.

Talking to the mortgage company is a good shout though. I'll definitely do that.

Be careful with mortgage holidays, take independent advice as I recall reading that it can cause credit difficulties depending on your lender. You might be better looking at a new deal if you can.

take all the support you can get. Get in touch with Teenage Cancer Trust Nd Clic Sargent. Clic in particular were great witn practical help.

Would the freelancers offer some support?

My heart goes out to you and I wish you and your family the best.

My DD1 has an eating disorder years ago and needed lots of care, which I largely provided, backed up by whatever help I could get (some of which I paid for).

I carried on working (in an existing part-time role). For me, work was the only time my DD’s problems weren’t right at the forefront of my mind. It made life harder, to some extent, but it gave me headspace. I’m not saying what I did was right, but it was right for me. And that’s all anyone can ask of you: make the best decision you can on the information available. PM me if you’d like to.

Claim DLA for your child ( most children going through cancer treatment will be entitled to it ) and then you claim carers allowance. Try to keep your hand in by working just a few hours if you can and try to stay under the carers allowance earnings threshold of £123 a week.