Clair Layton Jones

Clair Layton (Jones) When I was young I pictured my life pretty much as it is now, maybe not with four children but certainly a couple. I didn’t picture what work I would be doing, which is building, but knew I loved doing it with my dad. I loved watching my dad building and always joined in. Was nice to spend father daughter time. I found once I got married when my husband was away, I always started building jobs at home, but never knew it would be such a large part of my life now.

Was strange when I found out was pregnant for the first time as my nan had passed away six months before and I was having counselling try to understand her death. In a strange way felt my nan had sent a baby for me. I was so close to my nan as my mum was so hard working.

[The pregnancy] was a shock pregnancy. I hadn’t had a period for a few years and was having tests to see why. I’d been unwell and after having tests they revealed I was 18 weeks pregnant. I wasn’t with my partner at the time and was only 20. But there wasn’t any doubt on my part that I would keep the baby, others felt I shouldn’t. Amy was born 8 weeks prem [premature] so [it] felt like a very short pregnancy.

Going into the first steps of motherhood was hard. It was never plain sailing as I was not 100% sure I was doing the right thing as I was young…but my nan had passed away and I felt she had a part in the start of my motherhood. I know it may sound strange, but that was my way of coping [with] losing someone so important in my life. As soon as Amy was born, I knew that it was all I wanted to do for the rest of my life, be a mum.

Probably my greatest challenge has been bringing up my four children and for a time bringing up three on my own. It was very hard, but I overcame my fears with help from friends and very close family – as I still do with lots of things these days. Have had my fair share of hard times especially before Amy was born, a couple I would rather not discuss. But later in life, there have been ups and downs: one broken down marriage, bringing [up] three children at one point on my own, living in one room back with my parents. And struggling to look after them and myself. But [I] held it together, got a house, and started a new life.

Being a mum is the most precious thing in the word and given me the most proudest moments in my life. Especially giving birth as I did that. No one else but me. I hope my children realize everything I ever do is for them and their future and how proud I am to be their mum. I don’t want them to know how truly hard some times have been for me, but to know it’s all been for them.