“My Mummy isn’t here.”

“My Mummy isn’t here.”

Todd has just turned 4 but he already understands that his situation is different to the other kids at day care. All the other kids are picked up by their Mum or Dad but Todd’s Mum isn’t around anymore. It is Todd’s grandmother that picks him up each day when she finishes work and takes care of him at home. Todd’s Mum disappeared 6 months ago and hasn’t been seen since. She left Todd with his grandmother while she tried to check herself in to a drug detoxification clinic. Each day, Todd asks his grandmother if Mummy is coming home today. Each day she answers in the same sad voice, “I don’t know Toddy, I just don’t know…”. Todd’s grandmother has put her retirement plans on hold while she waits for news about her daughter. She fears that her daughter will never be able to parent Todd and she worries about the future of her young grandson. She wonders if she should be making plans for Todd’s future. He needs to be booked into kindergarten and then school but she hadn’t expected to be the one making such important decisions. Her friends have become distant as they are long past having a little one around at social dinners. She feels isolated and alone. She longs for Todd to have the happy childhood that he deserves with a competent Mum at his side. Mirabel will support Todd and his grandmother through this time of uncertainty and help them to look towards a positive future together.