I have been looking after my twin brother and sister for the last 5 years. I was 19 at the time and I was afraid I wouldn’t get to care for them.
It was hard especially at the start getting a routine in place, sorting out homeworks and everything else that goes along with teenagers. But I’m used to it now. My brother and sister are older and can do most things for themselves so that has taken the pressure off a bit.
I didn’t realise how important family actually was until I took on my brother and sister. The thought of them living anywhere else doesn’t bear thinking about. We are so close and I love having them about. We still have our ups and downs like all families do, but there isn’t anything that we can’t sit down and talk about.
I go to the Sibling Carer Support Group, which is great. I have met and developed friendships with other sibling carers. We talk about things and support each other. No judgements are made because we are all in the same boat. The good thing about going to the support group is that other sibling carers understand that I have been through the same as my brother and sister and that I need support too.
I plan to go back to school and maybe do a Degree in Social Work. I think I’d make a great social worker because of what I’ve been through. In the meantime I’m doing some courses and have started to volunteer in the Kids n’Kinship Shop. I just want to give a little something back to Kinship Care for all they have done for me.