My Life in Care...the Truth: Part 1

"Is it like being Tracy Beaker?" - said everyone I've ever told that I was in care. No, no it is not.

I'm going to level with you. I'm a 'normal' girl (if there's such a thing) and I like to do what 'normal' girls do. Go shopping and hang out with friends while talking about boys, music and makeup! There's been plenty of times in my life that I've wanted people to treat me as such. They think that they have to (metaphorically) tip-toe around me to ensure they don't 'hurt my feelings' or upset me.

Let me spell it out for you...I am NOT a victim of the care system. Yeah, I might have a slightly different lifestyle to you and certain restrictions - but I am no different than the next person.

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The beginning:

I was born in Dublin, Ireland on the 6th March 2000 as the youngest out of my two siblings. Events occurred and my family moved from Dublin to Leeds, where i’d spend the next 17 years of my life.

From the beginning of my life, my family had been watched by the council so it didn’t really come as a surprise when the social came knocking when I was three. They wanted to keep my siblings and I together which I guess was a good thing. After being placed with numerous families we were put into a ‘long-term’ placement with a couple. I’m not going to use their real names, however, so let's call them...Agatha and Rupert?

I don’t really recall my first years with them as I was only a toddler, but as I grew older - certain rules and other guidelines would be put into place by them. I realise now that these were unnatural and harsh rules - but it was normal for us back then.

Examples of these would be things like: sit on the floor cross legged and sat straight up, three drinks per day (with permission...and water only), sit at the ‘breakfast bar’ instead of the actual table, no talking while sat at the breakfast bar or sat in the living room, ask for a shower the night before you want one (if you didn’t do this then you wouldn’t get a shower). These are only a few of the rules - the whole place was ruled fairly regimentally if you ask me. Agatha was also a very religious Catholic. Thus my siblings and I going to Catholic schools and church every Sunday without fail. Without a choice!

End of Part 1