A parentified child is a child who has given responsibilities usually handled by an adult. And now as adults, these same people may take on more responsibility at work or in a relationship because they feel like they’re the only thing that can make the department or relationship function. For as long as I can remember, I was my brother’s keeper. As soon as he was born I had to help take care of him. I became his babysitter. His teacher. Whenever I asked if I could hang out with friends I was told only if I brought my brother along. I hated it. I was only 6 when he was born. I still feel like I missed out on so much of my childhood because I spent so much time teaching him how to read, write, math, etc. I get angry thinking about it. I don’t feel like I got to be a kid. And I understand WHY I had to step up. Both of my parents worked and we couldn’t afford a babysitter. I understood. I get it. My mom used to brag about how I was so mature at such a young age but I never took pride in it. I still get mad thinking about how I felt like a nanny more than a sister. How my brother and I are not close now. How my parents used to tell me to clean his room after I had just done the dishes and vacuumed while my brother played video games. How maybe I wouldn’t be so depressed or anxious now. But there’s no point in playing the what-if game. So now when I try to honor my inner child, I honestly don’t even know what that looks like. I wanted to be a gymnast, a dancer, an athlete. But my options for extra curriculars were taken away because I had to help take care of my brother. I think hobbies were easier to discover as a kid. There were more opportunities. I’ve always wanted to play soccer and I could’ve participated in my middle school team, but my parents didn’t have the time or money or the means to get me to and from games. Anytime I wanted to go anywhere, I was always met with “well how are you going to get there because I’m not taking you.” I think today I’m just mad. I’m mad I missed out on so much and I don’t know how to make up for it now. . . . . #parentifiedchild #oldersiblings #reparenting #innerchild #innerchildhealing #innerchildwork https://www.instagram.com/p/CEnHz1qjtOP/?igshid=1xh68kk7leoxc
