For The Mothers

For all the mothers who have seen their children through dark times.

For all the mothers who waited for news of operations and have sat by hospital beds.

For all the mothers who watch their children struggle with their diagnosis while the news tells stories that make them both feel like they are inconvenient for being autistic/having ADHD/ struggling with their mental health.

For all the mothers with children stuck on waiting lists without any diagnosis or support, doing their best to muddle through and fighting the system every day.

For all the mothers of children with a serious physical health problem.

For all the mothers with children at home today because the school system does not work for them.

For all the mothers who are scared to open the bedroom door each morning for fear of what they might find. After a night of no sleep because of the worrying.

For all the mothers who are unable to hold their children because their children do not want to be hugged.

For all the mothers cajoling children to eat that simply cannot, eight times a day. Every day.

For all the mothers who have anything at all to do with the EHCP process.

For all the mothers who keep their struggles secret because they feel shame and guilt, because they do not know their children chose them to take this journey with.

I see you.

This piece was painted for you.