“I’m George, and I’m five. I live with my mum, dad, brother, and sister in our home in Lerwick. It is always busy and loud, and I share a bunk bed room with my brother. I like having people around all the time.
Even though Dad works, he is careful, because earning too much could mean we lose benefits and end up worse off. That makes things confusing and stressful.
Mum finds it hard to go out sometimes because she feels anxious. She says school made her feel like she wasn’t good enough, and she still feels that way now. She wants to work one day, maybe even be a nurse, but it feels like a big step.
Money is always tight. Toward the end of the month, I can see that food runs low. Mum sometimes says she isn’t hungry. My brother does that too. I notice, even if they think I don’t.
School can be hard in ways people don’t always see. On dress-up days or book days, my brother and sister sometimes stayed home. Now Mum tries to take us to the library so we don’t miss out.
Even though things are hard, I feel loved. My parents do everything they can for us. We’re always balancing, but we’re doing it together.”
