I really relate to what you said about feeling like an extra parent to your youngest sibling. My dad died when my sister was only 6, and my mom spent all of my high school years going to college and working, so I became the fill-in parent. I was the one who signed her permission slips, helped with her homework, packed her lunches, drove her home from school, etc. We became really close and now that she's an adult we still are, but sometimes I wish our relationship had been more "normal".
yeah it’s rough. i’m sorry about your dad, though. my dad was still there despite always working and school, so i haven’t ever experienced losing someone like that, but i can definitely empathize with the stress of what it means to care for a younger sibling like a parent when you’re not supposed to be the adult. because you’re just a kid, too, yeah?
