The young person's guide to MS I have extra responsibilities
Having a parent with MS may mean you have more responsibilities at home and less freedom than your friends have. You may only have to help when it's needed, or you may already have some everyday jobs like making your bed and keeping your room tidy. Sometimes you might have to do extra things like helping with the cooking, cleaning or doing the washing. But then, lots of young people have jobs to do in the house when their parents don't have MS. Some young people may have to spend some of their time helping to care for their parent.
"I have to help mum a lot more and she can't do as much stuff with me, but she helps me a lot so it's not so bad because after a while you get used to it."
Ben, 12
"Mum can't drive me to school and I have to do her tablets every day. I have to know how to do more things in the house in case mum gets ill."
Claire, 11
"I have more jobs to do and friends don't come round much because it causes stress."
Teresa, 12
"I have to help out a lot and sometimes find it hard to get to places and sometimes when I am asked for help I can struggle to do it. But I have got used to it now and I do feel good after helping out my mum. In fact sometimes I think I would miss it."
Sam, 14