Summary
"I Miss Mummy" by Cathy Glass tells the heart-wrenching story of four-year-old Alice, who is thrust into foster care after her mother, Leah, a young woman battling mental health issues and drug addiction, makes a desperate decision to snatch her away from the care of her maternal grandparents. Cathy, an experienced foster carer, finds herself unexpectedly drawn into Alice's complicated life when the little girl arrives at her home, having been missing for three days.
The narrative unfolds as Cathy navigates the complexities of Alice's past, learning about her loving relationship with her grandparents, the challenges posed by her mother's instability, and the emergence of her estranged father, Chris, and his new wife, Sharon. As Cathy strives to provide a stable and nurturing environment for Alice, she uncovers disturbing details about Leah's struggles and the events leading up to Alice's removal from her home. The story explores themes of family, loss, resilience, and the challenges faced by children in the care system.
Throughout the book, Cathy grapples with ethical dilemmas and bureaucratic hurdles as she advocates for Alice's best interests, navigating the often conflicting agendas of social workers, family members, and the courts. As the care plan shifts and Alice's future hangs in the balance, Cathy finds herself increasingly invested in the little girl's well-being, determined to ensure she finds a loving and stable home, despite the many obstacles in their path.
As the story progresses, the focus shifts to the relationships between Alice, her mother, her grandparents, and her estranged father. Cathy tries to help Alice, but is often left out of important decisions. Meanwhile, the grandparents express anger and resentment towards the social services, particularly towards Chris and Sharon. It becomes very clear that the little girl is caught in the middle of circumstances that are mostly out of her control. Through it all, "I Miss Mummy" highlights the importance of compassion, understanding, and advocacy in the lives of vulnerable children, offering a poignant glimpse into the realities of the foster care system and the enduring power of love and family.
The final chapters are the most gut wrenching as they chronicle Cathy's efforts to facilitate the needs of everyone in Alice's orbit, but constantly comes up against circumstances beyond her control. As one door seems to open with positive news and the ability to return to her grandparents, another door also seems to close quickly for Cathy. In this moving story that chronicles the life of a foster carer, it will be difficult to not be moved by the story of little Alice.