Evelyn D

Wow... What a few months of turmoil there have been since Labour became the incumbent government. It is a rollercoaster I believe many of us did not want to be on at all. But here we are.

We've had a decent easter break in many ways, thanks to voucher hoarding!! I feel tremendously lucky to be able to support my son to go to things and do things that are mostly off limits because of our tiny budget for anything other than the essentials. It has made me so sad that the experience of eating out is largely closed to my son and his girlfriend. That trying new things is just not an option. It is dreadfully reductive at this stage in their development, and I just feel that we need to do better as a country, for our young people. The gap of privilege is 'gapping' at an extreme rate, feels deeply unbalanced and getting worse. I have nothing to compare this time with that isn't the 70's, how bad that is.

I think that our kids are so used to being refused anything that is above a certain cost, it is in their DNA that they 'can't' have a better life, that is awful to me. My son's girlfriend recently spoke about a gift for her mother which cost £22 and she was saying the amount as if it was a £1000, it really does impact you when you hear kids speak about tiny amounts of money as if they are huge.

What future can they expect after the recent announcement of cuts in support? Do they even dream of being more? Is anything above their experiences of poverty growing up even possible? I don't know, but I won't give up pushing them and reassuring them that they can change their lives. Self sovereignty should be taught in school, should be enforced as a concept at every level, because no one else will do it for us.

Despite the knowledge that this is dire, I am trying to ensure that my son's last year at school is positively memorable. The hardship he has experienced is appalling, but you know what, it feels in my power to make things better for him, whatever the cost... I have been looking at cleaning jobs again... I never want my son to reach 53 years old as I am, and believe the only job he can do is cleaning someone else's toilet...