PARENTS AND TEENS: WELCOME TO MY WORLD

PROGRAMME 8: ASHLEIGH AND YVONNE

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

00:00 – 06:46 Monday

Ashleigh had a big problem with lateness at school last year, and now Yvonne rewards her with £1 every time she gets there on time. The fact that Mike is away on an oilrig for weeks at a time hasn't brought mother and daughter any closer. They spend hardly any time together, and even when they do talk they can't open up to each other. There is one opportunity to chat, when Yvonne drives Ashleigh to the stables where she keeps her beloved pony Tom-Tom.

06:47 – 09:53 Tuesday

Ashleigh struggles to keep up at school and feels pressurised to achieve goals set by her parents rather than by her. Yvonne prioritises time out with her friends, and when she plays bingo in the evening Ashleigh has to babysit her brother Kyle.

09:54 – 13:13 Wednesday

Ashleigh and Yvonne lead such separate lives that there's never a chance to share their feelings. Even when there was a crisis three years ago, when Ashleigh was being bullied, they kept their thoughts to themselves, although Ashleigh eventually wrote her mum a letter about what was happening. Ashleigh doesn't want to upset her mum, so she tries to cope on her own, although she'd love to be closer. She thinks her mum is closer to Kyle than to her. Ashleigh volunteers at a local Rainbows group and really enjoys working with the children there.

13:14 – 15:00 Thursday

While Yvonne is meeting up with her in-laws, Ashleigh takes Tom-Tom out. Spending time quietly with her pony helps her think things through and gives her a sense of being needed, so much so that she feels closer to him than she does to her parents.

15:01 – 17:53 Friday

Yvonne is beginning to realise that she needs to ease the pressure on Ashleigh to do well at school and make an effort to spend time with her. But it's not just time that's needed – they must start talking about the things that really matter. That night though, Yvonne's off again to let her hair down at the pub while back at home Ashleigh's having a secret drink with her friends.

17:54 – 19:44 Saturday

Even at the weekend there's precious little family time to be had. While Yvonne sleeps in, Ashleigh enjoys babysitting to earn some extra pocket money. Mike comes home today, and he and Yvonne go straight off to the pub.

19:45 – 25:00 Sunday

Ashleigh and Yvonne both shed a tear as they watch the film and realise that they're both yearning for a closer relationship. Yvonne knows she'll have to put the effort in to make it happen, and Ashleigh's happier because she's realised that her mum really does care. They decide to spend more time together and to try harder to open up and talk honestly about their feelings