Easing daily stress for Variety moms
“Once you have a kid, they take over everything,” Kailey says.
Maybe you can relate to Kailey. Her son Kason is her world. “Watching him grow into his unique personality is really special,” she says.
Kailey, a mom from Kelowna, is raising Kason on her own. When he was four years old, Kason was diagnosed with severe youth arthritis. In those early days, everything felt new and overwhelming. Kason had pain and inflammation in about 19 different joints, significantly impacting his daily life.
For Kailey, emotional and practical help has made all the difference. A few months ago, she and Kason moved back into her childhood home, sharing the space with her parents. “The extra support’s always good, especially when you’re too tired to cook dinner. It goes a long way,” she says.
Variety moms face show so much creativity and resilience as they raise their kids, navigate their child’s health conditions and sustain support systems. And in many cases, they’re balancing all this on their own. Of all the families Variety helped in 2025, over 40% are single caregivers and almost 37% are single mothers. On top of the rising costs of living in B.C., these families are also facing significant healthcare expenses.
For Kailey, having access to consistent support through Variety has helped ease one major source of stress. Kason’s bi-weekly physio sessions far exceed what her insurance covers, and she couldn’t afford them on her own. Yearly grants from Variety make it possible for Kason to sustain his mobility progress.
“There’s already so much stress that comes with being a single parent with a child who has a lifelong condition,” Kailey says. “Variety gives us peace of mind because we don’t have to live with the stress of not being able to afford care.”
With that financial pressure lifted, Kailey can focus on being present as a mom. “Just having that solid connection with your kid, being open and honest, that is very rewarding,” she says.
This Mother’s Day, we recognize the many incredible moms and mom figures in our Variety community. They embody such fierce love and advocacy for their kids.
And to our donor community, thank you. Your support helps create that sense of stability and relief for moms who need it most. From all of us at Variety BC, happy Mother’s Day!