The other night one sentence hit me like a ton of bricks.

Me and Shane were actually sat down in the same room as each other for more than 5 minutes. The sentence was simple “I’m worried about you.” Not because something bad happened but because he could see how heavy life at home has been recently. I answered him simply too “you should be”.

Reilly is my bestie and raising him is a privilege but it’s also overwhelming in ways I never imagined. The constant worry, the appointments, the emotions, the exhaustion it never really shuts off. Some days are great, some I’m just treading water but occasionally I feel completely suffocated by life. I know many will understand that and will have felt it too.

After he said that we had one of the most honest conversations we’ve had in a long time. We talked about expectations, the future and how much the worry of it all is affecting both of us and how easy it is to sit in survival mode instead of really checking in with each other.

It reminded me how much relationships change when you’re raising a child with additional needs while working and parenting other children. The stress is heavier. The exhaustion is deeper and sometimes you don’t even realise how much you’re actually carrying until someone says it out loud. In that moment, I felt seen and supported.

I just want you to know you’re not alone in how hard it can be. Talk to each other. Be honest. Get it off your chest lads and lasses does you the world of good