May has been a month of growth, resilience, reflection, and exciting new beginnings.
The boys continue to do exceptionally well at school. Academically, my eldest continues to amaze us with his intelligence and curiosity. Meanwhile, separating the boys has allowed us to discover strengths we may otherwise have missed. The younger of the two has revealed a real talent for athletics and is thriving in ways we had not anticipated.
It hasn't all been straightforward. We have seen some acting out following two missed parental contacts, where one parent did not attend as planned. Unsurprisingly, this brought some emotional challenges and made for a difficult half term. As always, we continue to support the boys through these disappointments and help them process feelings that no child should have to carry alone.
Another significant development this month is that Darren and I have made a major investment in our family's future and purchased a holiday home on a holiday park. This was not a decision we made lightly, but one that has been shaped by our experiences as foster carers.
Many of the boys who have come into our care have been use to an enormous amount of freedom. Unfortunately, that freedom has often come not from independence, but from neglect and a lack of safe adult supervision. When children enter care, the boundaries and safeguards that are put in place to protect them can feel restrictive, even though they are necessary and rooted in love and care.
Our current boys had been roaming their city centre from the ages of three and six, making them incredibly vulnerable to exploitation, including by county lines drug dealers. We can only imagine some of the things they may have witnessed during those years. By having a holiday home in a secure environment, we hope to give them back some of the freedom they recognise and value, but in a way that is safe, supported, and appropriate. We hope it will provide opportunities for adventure, independence, and happy childhood memories while helping them adjust to family life and the stability they deserve.
In other news, I have officially begun fundraising for my Three Peaks Challenge, which I will complete in September. Over the course of 48 hours, I will climb three mountains across Scotland, England, and Wales in support of causes that mean a great deal to me.
One part of the challenge feels especially significant. The day before I climb the first mountain in Scotland, I will spend a full day volunteering at a foodbank in Glasgow, one of my chosen charities. The date happens to fall on what would have been my late dad's 92nd birthday.
Although he was Canadian, he was immensely proud of our Scottish and Irish heritage and spoke often about Scotland, particularly the west coast where we spent many happy holidays. He also had a deep appreciation for Glasgow and the challenges the city faced following the closure of the shipyards. I know he will be with me in spirit that day, and I hope he would be proud of what I am doing.
If you would like to support my Three Peaks Challenge, I am raising funds for three causes that are deeply personal to me.
As a breast cancer survivor, I am raising money for Cancer Research UK. Every donation helps fund vital research, improve treatments, and bring hope to those facing a cancer diagnosis.
I am also supporting Glasgow South West Foodbank. Volunteering there on my dad's birthday feels like a fitting way to honour his memory while supporting people facing hardship in a city he cared deeply about.
Finally, I am raising money for A-Sisterhood, an organisation that supports and empowers women and girls affected by abuse around the world. This is a cause that aligns closely with my belief that every woman and child deserves safety, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive.
If you would like to donate, you can do so here:
• Cancer Research UK: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/grace-grit-3-peaks-with-sparkles
• Carntyne and Riddrie Foodbank: https://click.contact.justgiving.com/?qs=ABB7InYiOjEsImQiOjQ4NjR9AAYAAAAAAJ9C1l3X1S5uev9njI0p7rUk7leW389TXknhMyj4HOBgym0BvNYucuNjX17gUgWou1Vd6VEdM7CmcJ0X1eGeT3b-NEoFvJlQdg
• A-Sisterhood: https://www.a-sisterhood.org.uk/fundraisers/157
Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared the fundraising pages, encouraged me, or simply followed my journey. Your support means more than words can express. Every donation helps turn this challenge into something bigger than a mountain climb—it becomes an opportunity to support families facing hardship, advance life-saving cancer research, and empower women and girls across the world.
As May comes to an end, I am reminded that progress doesn't always look the same. Sometimes it looks like academic success. Sometimes it looks like discovering a hidden talent. Sometimes it looks like helping children learn that safety and freedom can exist together. Sometimes it looks like carrying on through disappointment, grief, and challenge while continuing to give back to others.
Thank you, as always, for following our journey and for your continued support.
With grace, grit, and sparkles,
