Kate Morgan, a BBC Wales News Communities correspondent, shared a story about Betsan, a mother of autistic twin girls who has faced repeated suggestions to give up her job to care for them full-time due to the lack of affordable childcare. Betsan, from Trebanos, Swansea, expressed her desire to provide her princess-loving daughters with a full life but explained that she cannot afford to do so without working. Despite struggling to find suitable care for her non-verbal eight-year-old twins, Bowann and Brielle, Betsan reiterated that working allows her to give her daughters a nicer lifestyle and be a “better mother.”
Betsan mentioned the daily struggles of caring for her twins, who require one-to-one care, alongside her responsibilities towards her mother and her job in TV production. She highlighted the physical and mental toll of their morning routine, including meltdowns, which often leaves her exhausted even before heading to work. Working provides Betsan with a personal focus and mental respite, allowing her to express herself and distract from the uncertainties of the future with her girls.
In a similar vein, Sarah, from Monmouth, spoke about her experience as a working mother to Ivor, a five-year-old with Angelman syndrome. Despite the challenges of raising a child with severe physical and learning disabilities, Sarah emphasized the importance of balancing work to avoid becoming overwhelmed by her son’s condition and uncertain future. Sarah’s employer’s flexibility in allowing her to work remotely across three shorter days during term time has been crucial in managing her responsibilities as a working caregiver.
A report by the Senedd’s children, young people, and education committee highlighted the significant impact of the lack of access to childcare on parents or carers of children with disabilities or additional learning needs. Plaid Cymru MS Sioned Williams raised concerns about the strain on families due to their caring responsibilities, emphasizing the need for improved support and understanding for working caregivers. While the Welsh government and councils have made efforts to address childcare needs for families with additional needs, challenges remain in ensuring adequate support and funding for working parents in similar situations
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