Parents expect 23-year-old pregnant daughter to take care of her young half-siblings, scold her when she sets boundaries: 'They pushed you one step too far'

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Sep 21, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

"Parentification" is a word that we should all come to learn, and fight against. It means what it sounds like it means-- turning a child (usually an older sibling) into a parental figure, even when they're just a kid themselves. It's a prevalent issue and can turn families inside out. Just because you were born earlier doesn't mean you signed on to the responsibilities of raising a child. You are still entitled to a childhood of your own, unburdened by duties your parents thrust upon you.

Sure, it's nice to help your family out, and you might have a genuine desire to look after your young sibs, but when people start to count on you for it, that's when it becomes an issue. For example, what happens when you decide to have kids of your own? When does the parentification become too much? That's the situation one family was in when things came to a head at a family dinner. Read on for the story.

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