This week I met two women with very different stories, very different situations, yet they shared a similar reality.
One is a kinship carer raising her three grandchildren because of her daughter’s mental health challenges. Recently, her youngest grandchild has begun experiencing thoughts of self-harm, adding another layer of worry and responsibility to an already heavy role.
The second is a mother navigating the challenges of supporting her son with diabetes at school. Although the school is caring and committed, limited training and reduced funding mean staff often feel unequipped to manage his medical needs. As a result, he has missed large parts of his education, nearly a year out of school, and even now, his return remains difficult, with multiple daily calls home because diabetes equipment is not always used confidently.
Why do I share these stories?
Because behind every situation like this is a woman and a family who once had clear hopes and plans for their lives, plans that slowly become overshadowed by unexpected circumstances.
What I love most about my work is listening to these journeys and helping people remember that their lives do not begin and end with their current challenges.
It’s incredible how one focused conversation can help someone reconnect with who they are, organise overwhelming stress into an action plan, and create clear goals not only for their family, but for themselves too.
These are not the stories anyone imagines for their future. Life can change in a single moment. That is why family life coaching matters because none of us knows how we will respond when the unexpected happens.
3 steps to coping with unexpected change:
1️⃣ Pause and acknowledge the reality
Give yourself permission to recognise what has changed without judgement. Acceptance is the first step toward clarity.
2️⃣ Create structure from overwhelm
Write down challenges, priorities, and available support. Turning thoughts into a plan reduces anxiety and restores control.
3️⃣ Reconnect with your own identity
You are more than the situation you are managing. Protect time, goals, and support systems that belong to you as an individual.
What is an SGO?
An SGO (Special Guardianship Order) is a legal arrangement in the UK where someone other than a child’s parents, often a grandparent or relativ,e becomes the child’s long-term carer. It gives the guardian parental responsibility while maintaining the child’s connection to their birth family.
Depending on the local authority, financial support may also be available, including an SGO allowance, support with legal costs, therapeutic services for the child, and access to ongoing practical and emotional support. Payments and eligibility vary, so carers are encouraged to request an assessment from their local council to understand what support they may be entitled to.
My life mission is simple: to ensure people receive the right support at the right time, so no one feels forced to suffer in silence or step away from their career or identity because they are facing challenges alone.
If these stories resonate with you or someone you know, remember that support exists, and change is possible. Please help us achieve our mission to support 100 new families and 50 organisations by the end of 2026.
Sometimes helping someone can be as simple as forwarding an email to the right person, school, faith group, or HR team. Small actions can create meaningful change.
