Our dedicated grocery colleague Tanya Jones can't wait until she's able to give her nine-year-old son Shay a big hug again.
When lockdown began in March Tanya decided that with her being a keyworker at our Tonypandy store it was safer for Shay, who's asthmatic, to stay full-time with his dad Martin and his step-mum Susan.
Tanya said: "He went over there the Friday before Mother's Day. He stays there every weekend, just this time with lockdown he's been there ever since.
"It's the first time I've been apart from Shay except the times that he's been on holiday with his dad. His dad's driven Shay round so we can see each other – I've been on the doorstep and he's been in the car but it's been really hard not being able to give him a hug and a kiss.That's definitely the first thing I'll do when he's back.
"He's got his own phone so I FaceTime him every day, which has been a Godsend, but it's not the same. We're still not sure when Shay's be able to come back – we're waiting for some guidance."
Tanya, who's worked for Asda for 11 years, says her colleagues have been extremely supportive.
She said: "They've been fab. We're a very close-knit store and everyone knows everybody here."
The store's community champion Karen Thomas says everyone is so proud of Tanya.
She said: “Shay’s her world, so it's been a great sacrifice not to have him with her. But she still manages to be always smiling and laughing.
“Tanya’s a credit to the store and her community. She's a very much-liked member of the team and a pleasure to work with.”
