Christine's story: a place of her own

Christine's story: a place of her own

Christine is a full-time unpaid carer for her teenage son, Sam, who lives with Asperger’s and OCD. The two of them live together and while Sam does receive some additional support, most of his care falls to Christine.

Day-to-day life can be unpredictable. Some days are easier than others, but every day requires Christine to provide consistent emotional support, reassurance, and understanding. She works hard to remain calm and steady, knowing how easily anxiety can transfer to Sam.

Although deeply committed to her caring role, Christine sometimes feels isolated and tired. Despite this, she carries on, doing her best to create a stable and supportive environment for her son. 

While exploring support for Sam, Christine spoke with a worker about her own wellbeing and what taking a break might look like for her. Through this conversation, she reflected on what brings her comfort: being at home and close to Sam, reading, embroidery, and gardening.

With encouragement, Christine applied for a Time to Live microgrant. She chose to use the funding to purchase a wooden greenhouse - a small, peaceful space in her garden where she could rest, recharge, and spend time on the things she enjoys, while still being close to Sam.

“The greenhouse means I can rest and relax in the garden while still being close enough to support Sam if needed. It gives me independence but also comfort a place to read or work on my embroidery. Rain, hail or shine, I can use my greenhouse to take a break. It’s good to have time to myself in a way that suits me, without having to go away somewhere or do something that doesn’t feel right for me.”

The Time to Live microgrant gave Christine something truly meaningful - not just a structure in her garden, but a space for rest and balance. Her wooden house allows her to step gently away from the demands of caring, without ever feeling too far from her son. It has reduced her feelings of isolation, supported her wellbeing, and strengthened her ability to continue caring with patience and resilience.

Find out more about Time to Live here.