Learning from caring experiences

This is a timeline of boxes connected to each other, mostly along a horizontal line, which depict the high points and low points in Lesley’s life. In addition to the thirteen boxes of her timeline, an additional six coloured boxes represent things she has learned from various events and experiences. The timeline moves from left to right, with the four low points represented by boxes below the main line, and two high points above the line. The timeline starts on the left with a box stating that Lesley trained to be a nurse in London. This made her think ‘I enjoy learning’. The timeline then moves to the right with the box representing when she travelled and lived in Turkey for a year. Box three records her move to Scotland where her parents had relocated from Kent. Both these boxes taught Lesley that she was open to new challenges, her second learning point. She then worked as a nurse in Dumfries from 1994–2004, married and had children (box four). Box five lies below the line as it was a low point when Lesley’s daughter was ill, which meant a lot of time was spent travelling to hospitals and juggling work. Another low point (box six) reflects her son being diagnosed with disabilities, meaning it was impossible to work and be a full-time carer. On a more positive note, box seven is back on the horizontal line for 2004–2007 when Lesley worked part-time in retail. Then she did some volunteering while her son was at school. These experiences resulted in learning points four and five and the realisation that she can budget, plan, organise and manage while she also enjoys working as part of a team. At the same time, additional low points (boxes nine and ten) indicate that regular support was needed from both a carers centre and other carers, and her back and joint problems worsened. This taught Lesley that she had to adapt what she does to fit in with her health. Separation from her partner was associated with financial challenges (box eleven), but marked the start of a positive phase represented by boxes twelve and thirteen. Here she started an Open University course and followed that with a business studies course (in the final box) at the end of her timeline. At the end of her timeline Lesley’s thoughts are ‘I enjoy learning. I can pass a course. I can do it!’