12 years old and caring for Mum

[PeachyPinky]

As a lone disabled parent, I am shocked and annoyed at the way these parents are using their children!

I suppose Madison's mum couldn't help it, given that most of her issues were mental?

It would be a great shame if Madison had to give up the sport she's clearly very good at though.

Yes, that came out near the end of the programme, she seemed to have pains so it looked phsyical rather than mental at first. I think Madison will stick with the sport.

I am not as bad as the lady who had the daughter who danced, I am more on scale like the Mum who got the new home. I just wouldn't ask my children to help me with things she did and I would tell them not to help me.

It was interesting though as I didn't realise that the children worry about me, until I asked them when it came up in the show.

It was a sad and interesting show.

Do you have any help from agency carers, peachy?

One of my DC belongs to a young carers group because the other is disabled and it does affect all our lives but this documentary made me realise that many other young people are affected to a far higher degree.

I'm about to watch it as my 12yr old is my carer, will post afterwards

I watched it. One of my DC attend a young carers group because the other DC has a severe disability. I am the primary carer but my child helps by playing with his sibling and helping him to communicate amongst other things.
I tried to watch the programme with an open mind but I couldn't help feel angry with Maddisons mum. I gathered from the outset that she had mental health issues as well as Fibromyalgia but it was the MH issues that had the biggest impact. I thought she was very selfish when she interrupted Maddison during the archery competition to put a heat pad on her neck and I felt very angry with her when she discussed the possibility of Maddison playing Archery abroad. She could only consider the way it would impact on herself and not about what it meant to Maddison. I thought Maddison was wonderful and mature beyond her years. I know it's wrong for me to feel angry with the mum but I did. I understand she has a MH issue but I could only focus on the affects on Maddison.

It was heartbreaking for all involved - very sad to watch.

I didn't see this. When/what was it on? I was a carer for my grandmother who raised me until she died when I was 13. Back then there weren't any organisations for young carers like there are today but I wouldn't have changed it, Id have been in a care home as a baby if it weren't for her so it was only right I returned the favour when she needed it.

It was on yesterday on ch5.