Category: News

Last year, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I have told a few people, but not my family, other than my brother, and I don’t know if I should. They live abroad.

I have a lot of unresolved childhood issues, which I’ve mostly been able to put aside. But the diagnosis is making it harder to deal with the hurt, resentment and unfairness of it all.

I was brought up by an alcoholic dad who was barely functioning and, as the eldest daughter and “woman” of the family, I seem to have taken the role of carer for my brother, my dad, and myself. My parents separated when I was eight, after years of arguments. My mother then spent most of the rest of my childhood in psychiatric care and needed to be dealt with sensitively. Our extended family wouldn’t touch us with a barge pole; we were “undesirable”.

My 20s were a time of adjustment: I experienced a lot of self-harming behaviour but somehow managed to make a life for myself. Still, my personal life has been a disaster: I have been single for 15 years.

For the past 30 years, my dad has lived a new life: he has a new family and doesn’t drink any more. He’s never spoken of his drinking, never apologised. Conversation closed.

I have a career, a house, and incredible friends, but I have been hurt every year by my dad and his partner. Distance and time means I can just about manage it. Cutting all relations would jeopardise my dad’s mental health, so we all pretend. And I keep going back, each year seeking approval.

I thought of telling them about the cancer, then hesitated, and when I told my brother my hesitation made sense. He said: “Don’t tell them, they will say something hurtful.” He’s right, of course, whether a mean, innocuous comment from his partner or a random comment from my dad, I’m sure I would end up hurt.

My mum, a hopeless religious zealot who believes everything we do is commensurate with our amount of praying, would make the link with my very clear denigration of the church and religion. Do I break all links and focus on myself? Would I be able to live with the worry and guilt?

I am so sorry for everything you’ve gone through and are going through.

I went to UKCP-registered psychotherapist Helen Gilbert. She was struck by how self aware you are and how you understand how your childhood has had an effect on your adult life. “I sense the cancer diagnosis may have brought up the feelings of anger and unfairness about the care you didn’t receive as a child and the need to parent your own parents.”

Your longer letter hinted at a feeling of unfairness at how your father has moved on and now lives his life with no apparent fallout from the way he treated you. And few things bring out feelings of unfairness like a serious illness. I think there’s part of all of us that believes good will always outmatch evil, and yet here you are with such a heavy burden while others “[seem to] get off without any consequences,” suggested Gilbert.

Gilbert also wondered if your relationship with your brother “could offer you any solace or support. Is there potential for this relationship to be strengthened while you stay in low contact with your parents?”

You absolutely do not need to tell your parents anything you don’t want to. I fear you are looking for them to be different to how they have been and I wonder how you will react if they aren’t. What do you want to achieve and are you likely to achieve this?

I wouldn’t rush into anything without careful thought and talking it through with someone. This could be a really good friend, Macmillan Support or seeking out a psychotherapist who you get on with and/or who specialises in cancer support (look for oncology psychotherapists).

I imagine you are now wondering who will parent you at this difficult time? Is there someone in your circle already who makes you feel safe and could fulfil a “parental role”? And remember – you can change your mind at any time and tell your family. From now on it really is all about you.

Every week, Annalisa Barbieri addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Annalisa, please send your problem to ask.annalisa@theguardian.com. Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions.

Comments on this piece are premoderated to ensure the discussion remains on the topics raised by the article. Please be aware that there may be a short delay in comments appearing on the site.

Madison LeCroy is living her best life as she prepares for the arrival of her baby.  

The Southern Charm cast member, who is currently pregnant with her second child, took to her Instagram Stories recently to show how she’s been relaxing with family and friends on a vacation. In the photos, taken at a tropical beachside locale, Madison soaked up the sun in a brown bikini, putting her baby bump on display in the process.

More snapshots revealed gorgeous details of the getaway, including a glistening pool, palm trees, and incredible sunset views from the villa. 

In her other photos, Madison revealed she was taking the vacation with a few women, including her mother. For one of the evenings, the mom to 12-year-old son Hudson stunned in an off-the-shoulder black dress with white piping.

Madison continued in her Instagram stories to declare this was a “mom [and] daughter] trip” and showed off more details of her black off-the-shoulder dress which she paired with chunky beige heels. 

See Madison LeCroy’s pregnancy fashion at the Southern Charm Season 10 reunion 

We’re honestly loving Madison’s pregnancy fashion. At the Southern Charm season 10 reunion, the blonde beauty came to play in a black Tom Ford dress and Christian Louboutin heels. 

The fashion maven revealed to BravoTV.com she was going for a “rich mama” look, also channeling “opulent lady” and “goddess” vibes. 

Madison LeCroy shares more details about her second baby 

During an Amazon Live stream on Thursday, Feb. 27, Madison shared some exciting details about her pregnancy, including her due date. Although she didn’t provide an exact date, she did offer a time frame for the baby’s arrival. “Due month is first week of August, but scheduled last week of July,” she revealed, adding, “So, July will be the month if everything goes as planned. So it could be either/or.”

In the same live stream, Madison also shared a special detail about her daughter’s name. She plans to honor her late father, Ted LeCroy, who passed away in December 2023, by naming her daughter after him. “Yes, I will be naming her after my father,” she admitted, expressing her fondness for the name “Teddy.”

Madison emphasized the emotional significance of the name, saying, “This one obviously has such a meaning for me, so we’re going to do that.”

Madison previously revealed (before she announced her baby’s sex) on a Feb. 7 Amazon Live stream she was wanted to name the baby after her dad, regardless of the sex. “You guys know I recently lost my dad, and I will be naming my baby after him,” she said. “So, girl or boy, the name is going to work, and I’m super excited about that.”

Check out all the dazzling Southern Charm season 10 reunion looks. 

The daughter of Oded Lifshitz, the 83-year-old peace activist and kibbutz pioneer murdered in captivity by Hamas, says she is “humbled” by the “extraordinary” wave of love and support from the global Jewish community.

Speaking to Jewish News in her first interview since sitting shiva for her father, London-based filmmaker and academic Sharone Lifschitz reflected on the immense solidarity that has surrounded her family. Just two weeks ago, thousands, including Israel’s president, gathered to honour Oded as he was laid to rest in the very kibbutz he helped build.

Oded was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October. His wife, Yocheved, 85, was abducted alongside him but released after two weeks. He endured more than 500 days in captivity before his remains were returned to Israel.

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Sharone remains resolute that “the fight is not over,” emphasising the urgency of bringing home the remaining 59 hostages. “Some of them are no longer alive but there are families that need them back so they can bury them and feel the certainty that their loved ones are not suffering.”

Feeling deeply connected to “God’s community,” she expressed profound gratitude to Jewish communities in both the UK and Israel. “People are looking after me, sending food, organising events, and sharing incredible messages of support and love. It’s extraordinary.”

Sharone hopes for the chance to thank everyone personally. “Some never met my father, yet he was a loved member of their family in so many ways. That means everything to me.”

Sharone remembers her father as “unwavering, clear-headed and loving. He said to me quite a few years ago, that you’re never too old to feel like an orphan, and I’m very much feeling like an orphan”.

Oded’s wife Yocheved hoped against hope for good news, despite “somehow anticipating” what the devastating outcome might be.

“It still takes you by surprise, the blow of the relief knowing he’s not suffering and on the other hand, the finality of our loss.”

She was at Kibbutz Nir Oz last Shabbat and says: “It’s somehow almost surprising that we have a grave, because for so long we were in limbo and wanted to visit the grave in a quiet moment. I wanted to see the grave again before the stone is set.”

Her father, she says, “would be amazed. He would be humbled” by the public response. “We buried my father on Tuesday. Then we went to the funeral of Shiri and the kids, Ariel and Kfir. We are part of a tribe, but also part of a small community that has lost so many people. My father would certainly feel that he had a full life.”

Sharone firmly believes that what Oded stands for is the realisation that “opportunities to make the world a better place are not infinite, and that you must use the good. The clarity of his voice touched so many people, and I hope will continue to be a guiding light to look at the world with compassion, looking at all of us, our own tribe and other tribes, and seeing how linked we are.”

• JW3 is holding a community shiva for Oded Lifschitz on Sunday 16 March

When it comes to the most important woman in your life, there are far better ways to express your gratitude than with kitschy cards and forecourt flowers. Thankfully, some of Greater Manchester’s best restaurants, hotels, country parks and farms host a wondrous variety of special events for all ages and tastes, from afternoon teas and art sessions to floral arranging and free fizz, so you can spoil your mum with a memorable experience this Mother’s Day.

Much to the chagrin of educators, administrators, and local school boards worldwide, younger parents agree that their child doesn’t need to be in their classroom for every day of the school year. In fact, the vast majority say there’s [at least] one reason they are willing to pull their kids away from their studies. And no, it’s not illness … or weather … or gun control. (Although those must sometimes be factors too.)

American Express Travel just released their 2025 Global Travel Trends report, and they found that more than 72 percent of Millennial and Gen Z parents (born between 1981 and 2012) are willing to take their kids out of school “to travel as a family during the off-season.” As in, they are not limiting their vacation plans to summer breaks or long holiday weekends.

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Whether or not kids should be allowed to ditch their desks for worldly adventures is an oft-debated topic. And, again, one that must be majorly-frustrating for educators. But it seems that Millennial and Gen Z parents don’t mind their kids missing class to travel — especially if it means that travel will be cheaper. (Thank you, off-season prices!)

Plus, it might not only be finances that these parents are thinking of, but other family members’ schedules. In the survey of more than 8 thousand global participants — all of whom make at least $50 thousand per year and tend to travel at least once a year — more than 80 percent of respondents said they “prefer destinations that are family-centric and have activities for all ages.”

Per Amex, multi-generation vacations (pack your bags, Grandma and Grandpa!) are “more popular than ever.” Nearly 90 percent of Gen Z and Millennial parents said they plan vacations with extended family because they want “quality time” with the whole family. Meanwhile, just 24 percent said they did so to have “help with childcare.” Extra hands are always appreciated when little ones are running around, but it’s nice to hear that young parents’ priority is being together rather than nailing down a babysitter.

Yet another interesting finding is that 68 percent of Gen Z and Millennial parents involved in the survey said their children “typically help inform aspects of trips.” That’s opposed to the just 56 percent of Gen X and Baby Boomer parents (b. 1946 – 1980) who said the same. It’s unclear why there is such a disparity, but perhaps those younger parents grew up not being included in the decision-making and didn’t want the same to be true for their kids.

And now this begs the question, are those kids who “help inform aspects” of the vacation choosing the travel dates too? Perhaps it’s not the parents, but the students who are pushing those off-season prices that just so happen to coincide with that big exam. *Wink wink*

Trying to make summer travel less stressful? Check out these take-along toys kids will love.

The TP-Link Tapo C100 home security camera is tiny and practical, perfect for watching your kids and/or pets and keeping an eye on your home while you’re away. And right now, this camera is only $15 on Amazon. That’s a solid 40% off its MSRP!

The Tapo C100 is an indoor camera that can double as a baby monitor. It delivers 1080p video and can do night vision for up to 30 feet. Day or night, you’ll be able to monitor what’s going on in your home, as the camera sends your phone notifications whenever it detects motion. It even has two-way audio, so you can talk to your baby or chastise your pets for chewing on your slippers again.

If you don’t want to rely on cloud storage, you can pop in a 512GB microSD card. (We recently wrote about the Lexar Play microSD card on sale. While that particular deal focused on the 1TB version, the 512GB version is still on sale for $35!) At the same time, you can also connect the camera with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa and control it with voice commands, for example to bring up a live feed.

Go ahead and feel safer when you leave the house with this TP-Link Tapo C100 security camera for $15. And while you’re here, I want to remind you that Amazon’s Spring Sale event is coming up and we’ve already dug up some excellent early deals for you.

$15 for a home security camera is a total bargain

An east London councillor has denied contacting the father of a rape complainant and telling him to get his daughter to drop the charges, a court heard.

Abdul Malik, 50, who represents Blackwall and Cubitt Town ward on Tower Hamlets Council, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday charged with perverting the course of justice and pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged the incident happened on 23 January.

The case involves Samir Abdul, 18, of Warrior Square, Manor Park, who has been charged with two counts of rape and harassment without violence against a woman on 8 January.

Mr Malik, of Mercury Walk, Tower Hamlets, appeared in court alongside Abdul Roqib and Rahela Begum.

Mr Roqib, 45, of Warrior Square, Manor Park, is charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice.

He admitted one of the charges that on 22 January he contacted Mr Malik to request his involvement in halting criminal proceedings against his son.

It is also alleged he contacted the complainant of the rape case to ask her to drop the charges against his son on January 10, to which he did not enter a plea.

Mr Begum, 41, of Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice by calling the complainant in the rape investigation on 10 January and asking her to drop the charges.

Samir Abdul did not appear in court on Friday.

The next hearing will be at the same court on 28 March.

Australia’s Prime Minister didn’t mince his words when sharing his thoughts on the US influencer who snatched a baby wombat from its mother.

Anthony Albanese told shamed content creator Sam Jones that she should pick on someone her own size – or failing that, to try her luck with a crocodile.

The leader, 62, let rip at the influencer – who claims to be a a ‘wildlife biologist and environmental scientist’ – after footage of her ‘outrageous’ act went viral.

Jones posted a video to Instagram showing her picking up a baby wombat from the side of the road as the joey’s panic-struck mother gave chase.

Take a look at this:

The animal appeared to be distressed in the shocking clip and was seen trying to wriggle away from the influencer while making hissing sounds.

Observing that the wombat’s mother seemed to be ‘p**sed’ about her baby being seized, Jones then placed the animal back on the side of the road.

Australian officials quickly made it clear that the country’s animals are not for amusement while blasting the American for her ‘dreadful’ stunt.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke previously said his department was weighing up ‘whether immigration law has been breached’ and were considering revoking her visa.

However, Jones later fled Australia of her own accord – although Burke warned she would struggle to ever enter the nation again, ‘given the level of scrutiny that will happen’.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong also said of Jones actions: “It looked pretty dreadful, didn’t it? Really, leave the wombat alone.”

But it’s Albanese comments which have realy got people talking, as he urged Jones to take on something a bit snappier if she ever fancied interfering with wildlife again.

The Prime Minister said in disgust: “To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage.

“I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals, take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.

“Take another animal that can actually fight back, rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother. See how you go there.”

Jones has since fired back at Albanese and Co in a lengthy statement addressing the controversy, while insisting she is not a ‘villain’.

The influencer claims that she spotted the animals on the side of the road and pulled over to make sure they didn’t get struck by a car.

She explained that she picked up the joey as she became concerned for its welfare when it ‘did not move or run off’ as she approached.

Jones claimed she only ran away from the baby wombat’s mother in ‘fear she might attack’, describing it as a ‘snap judgement’ which she now realises was a mistake.

“I have learned from this situation, and am truly sorry for the distress I have caused,” she said. “I want to make it absolutely clear that this was never about social media or getting likes.

“This was not staged, nor was it done for entertainment,” she added. “In my excitement and concern, I acted too quickly and then failed to provide necessary context to viewers online.”

Jones then slipped in a series of shocking allegations about Aussie politicians and how animals are treated in Australia, while calling out Albanese by name for ‘wishing harm’ on her with his croc comment.

She alleged that the government ‘allows and permits the slaughter of wombats’, which are a legally protected species.

Her savage statement then added: “Your government further spends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars annually to fly around in helicopters and shoot beautiful horses, deer, and pigs out its windows.

“A swift death is often not afforded to these animals.

“[Animal] carcasses are then left on your public lands to rot. Your Snowy River and Kosciuszko National Park brumbys are being slaughtered by the thousands on your dime – speak to your Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about that.”

Further down, she went on to say: “While the Prime Minister wishes harm on me for picking up a wombat, I implore you to take a good, hard look at what is currently being done in Australia surrounding the real issues it faces, the lack of power for tens of thousands of Aussies and the treatment of its native wildlife.

“Then, decide for yourself, if I, a person who certainly makes mistakes, am really your villain.”

Members of the authority’s Richmond area committee will debate the petition which urges a reversal of restrictions meaning transport is only provided to a child’s nearest school, rather than their catchment school.

The petition was due to be debated in January but the meeting was halted amid claims of a “cover-up” after it emerged requested information on the policy change had not been made public.

The petition was organised by the School Transport Action Group, which was formed by parents and community leaders in the Upper Dales but now has members across the county.

Parent Charlotte Fowler, from the group, is expected to tell councillors that the policy is “broken”.

She will add: “Your own approved budget is evidence that there are no savings from any of this. Other councils have made better choices.

“Only three out of our 13 neighbouring local authorities have imposed ‘nearest school only’ on their residents in the same way as you have.

“We remind you once again that all of this mess, and all the angst being inflicted on families and schools, can go away with one small change to the home-to-school transport policy – bring back catchment.

“Sometimes you just have to be big enough to admit you’ve got it wrong.”

The petition states: “North Yorkshire Council’s recent decision to limit free school transport to the nearest school only is detrimental to rural families.

“It will divide communities, harm local schools and risk children’s safety by requiring travel on remote, often impassable routes. In return, there is no guarantee of any substantial financial savings.

“We the undersigned, led by a team of anxious Upper Dales parents and local residents, demand that councillors rethink and reverse this damaging policy in the light of the negative impact it will have on the safety and education of children across rural North Yorkshire.”

Council rules mean any petition with more than 500 signatures has to be debated by the authority.

The policy was introduced by the council in a bid to reduce the £50m spent every year on home-to-school transport.

In a report to councillors, Barry Khan, assistant chief executive, said the council had committed to reviewing the policy change in summer 2026 after a year of implementation.

Any changes could then be implemented from September 2027.

Opposition councillors are waiting to hear if their formal request for an extraordinary meeting on the issue has been approved by the council’s chair.

More retired baby boomers are now paying income tax than Generation Z workers in dramatic reversal of pre-pandemic trends, according to data published by HM Revenue & Customs.

The triple lock pension guarantee has pulled more elderly people into the tax net whilst youth worklessness has risen, the figures revealed.

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that over-65s are now more likely to pay income tax than those aged between 16 to 64.

Two thirds of pensioners now pay income tax, compared with 64.5 per cent of working age Britons. The triple lock ensures state pension payments rise by at least 2.5 per cent each year, leading to several above-inflation increases.

This has dragged more retirees with modest private pensions into the income tax net. A six-year freeze in tax-free personal allowances has exacerbated the situation.

Meanwhile, youth employment has suffered since the pandemic. Almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education or training.

Analysts are concerned that many young adults are not even looking for work, further widening the generational tax gap.

In 2019-20, just 4.65 million people aged over 70 paid income tax, compared with 4.8 million taxpayers aged under 30 during the same period.

Retired baby boomers are now handing more of their earnings to the taxman than their younger counterparts, despite no longer working.

HMRC data revealed the number of top rate taxpayers rose by 10 per cent to 600,000 in the 2022-23 tax year. Higher rate taxpayers increased by 680,000 to 5.1 mill during the same period.

Analysts are concerned that baby boomers are paying more to the tax man than Gen-Z

GETTY

While 28 million workers pay the basic 20 per cent, representing four-fifths of the workforce, they account for just £75.6bn, or a third, of tax revenues.

The five million higher rate taxpayers contribute £85.1bn, another third of revenues. Those paying the 45 per cent rate account for the final third (£83.4bn) despite representing only two per cent of workers.

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Fiscal drag is dragging Britons into higher tax brackets GETTY

This concentration of tax burden is expected to intensify as thresholds remain frozen, with Reeves confirming it will remain so until 2028.

As well as this, the number of top rate taxpayers is set to rise further following the decision to lower the 45 per cent threshold from £150,000 to £125,140.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has calculated there will be 3.7 million more taxpayers overall by the 2028-29 financial year.

By the end of the decade, there will be 2.7 million more higher-rate taxpayers thanks to the stealth raid.

An additional 600,000 people will pay the top rate compared to if thresholds had risen with inflation.