There are times when Kathleen Robinson would rather not celebrate Christmas.
Sometimes the Victoria mother feels so crushed under the weight of caring for her adult son, Stephen, who has schizophrenia, that she can't bother to think about presents and family dinners and a Christmas tree.
But Robinson warms to the holiday when she pulls out the Christmas gifts Stephen, 34, has given her over the years: a gold-coloured broach with two sparkling green frogs sitting on a log; a purple velvet teddy bear; numerous Christmas cards.
"He'll write me letters, but it's not always very legible. It says 'I love you mom.' Sometimes it says 'I hate you mom, you're the devil.' But when I get an 'I love you,' this is gold," said Robinson, whose curly blond hair frames a delicate face that looks much younger than her 57 years.
Robinson is one of the thousands of people who benefit from the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, with which she'll be able to buy groceries for Stephen -- freeing up enough money, she hopes, to buy her nine grandchildren gifts.
Robinson herself is on a disability pension, unable to work because of bipolar disorder and agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that causes severe panic attacks.
She collects $853 a month from the government and pays $595 a month in rent for a one-bedroom apartment in View Towers.
Her tidy living room, with flowered table cloths, lace curtains and antique furniture covered with framed pictures of her family, looks out of place in the dingy highrise at the corner of Quadra and View streets.
Robinson said it's the only residence she can afford that is close to Stephen's apartment on Johnson Street.
Robinson's four other sons, who have wives and children of their own, have chosen to distance themselves from Stephen, fearing that he will show up at their homes in the middle of the night.
"It has split the family, this mental illness," Robinson said. That split becomes especially painful during the holidays, when families typically come together.
"I said [to her other sons]: 'Please don't put me in the position of choosing between your Christmas dinner and my son.' "
Robinson said even if it means not seeing her nine grandchildren, she will spend the day with Stephen because she's all he has.
"I am his constant," she said.
Last year, your donations allowed us to help more than 2,100 households at Christmas.
If you would like to help this year, here's what you can do:
- Mail a cheque to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4M2.
- Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438.
- Look for Times Colonist Christmas Fund drop boxes around the city.
kderosa@timescolonist.com
