15-year-old caregiver misses friend's birthday due to babysitting duties, highlighting the issue of 'parentified children'.

15-year-old on Reddit shares her frustration as de facto caregiver for siblings while parents work. Missed friend's birthday due to babysitting duties, and confronts parents about her life being sidelined. Psychologist Chandra highlights that children shouldn't solve adult problems, and 'parentified children' (1.4M US kids aged 8-18) can face long-term issues, including dropping out of school, poor relationships, and repeating caretaker roles.

July 28, 2024
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