Teen Is Tired Of Being Second Mom To Her Siblings, But Her Mom Continues To Obligate Her Because She Lives 'Under Her Roof'
Should parents expect their older children to care for the younger ones? Generally, the answer is yes.
But only to some extent. Relying too much on the older sibling can potentially burden them with responsibilities beyond their developmental capabilities.
While it is reasonable to expect older children to contribute to the care and supervision of their younger siblings, it's essential to strike a balance. Overreliance on older siblings can interfere with their personal growth, academic responsibilities, and social lives.
Parents need to recognize the individual needs and limitations of each child, considering factors such as age, maturity, and personal interests. Additionally, fostering a sense of teamwork and cooperation among siblings can be more beneficial than placing an unequal burden on one individual.
Sadly, some parents think their older children owe them. Take a look at this story from the "Am I The A**hole?" (AITA) subreddit.
The original poster (OP) is a female teenager who's being forced by her mom to take care of her younger brother and other siblings to the point of sacrificing some school days (and we all know that attending school is a basic human right).
To make matters worse, she's being asked to watch the babies at the daycare her mom owns. She's got no time for friends and no pay!
When she finally spoke up, her mom's response was a bit rough, telling her it's her responsibility because the OP was living under her mom's roof.
The teenager is sick and tired of playing second mom to her baby brother.
RedditThings aren't looking good for the OP. She's being forced by her mom to babysit for her younger brother.
When she tried to make a stand, her mom told her that she needs to take that responsibility because she is still being raised by her mom.
RedditRedditors tell the OP that her mom is being abusive toward her.
It's not fair that she's missing some school days because she needs to care for her baby brother.
RedditWhat the mom is doing is called exploitation. The OP seriously needs to talk to a trusted adult about this situation.
RedditThe OP is being parentified. This is not a good place to be in.
RedditOne concerned Redditor told the OP about the long-term effects of parentification on mental health.
Her mother needs to stop. She needs to look for a proper baby sitter and the OP needs to start living like a teenager.
RedditOccasional babysitting is fine. But it's going to take a toll on the OP if it's too excessive.
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Redditor explains the negative effects of being made to babysit by parents.
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The OP's mom's expectation is just too over the top.
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A user doesn't need to read the story to make their judgment.
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This situation really sucks for the OP. Her abusive mom expects her to not only watch her brother, but also the babies of her mom's clients at the daycare.
Whether it's a counselor, a teacher, or a relative, the OP needs to find a trusted adult to help her through this ordeal. Her mom needs to be made aware of the long-term effects of parentification.
