Hey, Facebook fam! You know how life can throw curveballs at us, right? Well, today we have a story of a 16-year-old boy who’s been juggling responsibilities for his special needs siblings and his younger sister, Aimee. With his parents working long hours to provide the best for their children, our hero has been stepping up as the big brother, taking care of Aimee, cooking, and cleaning. But when a tragic loss in the family leads to the possibility of another special needs cousin joining the household, his parents ask him to take on even more duties. Will he agree, or will this be the breaking point? Let’s dive into the story!
Meet the Family
Special Needs Siblings
Private School and Busy Parents
Stepping Up as Big Brother
Cooking and Cleaning
Parents’ Attention to Aimee
Feeling Left Out
Responsibilities Since 11
Housekeeping Duties
Let Aimee Enjoy Her Childhood
Tragic Loss and a New Responsibility
More Duties for Our Hero
The Big Ask
A Breaking Point
Ultimatum and Anger
A Family’s Struggle and a Teen’s Sacrifice
Our 16-year-old protagonist is no stranger to responsibility, taking care of his younger sister Aimee and helping with his special needs siblings, Harry and Jaz. With his parents working long hours to provide the best for their children, he’s been the go-to guy for cooking, cleaning, and childcare. But when tragedy strikes and his autistic cousin ends up in foster care, his parents ask him to step up even more, taking on additional duties like grocery shopping and babysitting all three special needs kids. Feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated, our hero agrees, but only until he turns 18, after which he’ll walk away from it all. His parents claim his anger is unwarranted, but is it really? Let’s see what the internet thinks of this heart-wrenching situation…
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Sympathetic to parents but teenager should not lose adolescence. NTA
Teen feels parentified and seeks help to advocate for self
Empathetic support for teenager’s frustration in being expected to sacrifice their life for foster kids. #NTA
Prioritizing family responsibilities over personal aspirations
NTA. Have a solid plan to get out at 18
Insightful question about adoption process
Advice to a teenager feeling burdened by parents’ decision to foster.
Teenager expresses frustration with parents over decision to foster cousin.
Supportive commenter validates teenager’s feelings and offers help
Supportive comment suggests fleeing abusive home, seeking police help.
Teen advises presenting parents with articles on parentification and seeking therapy
Empathetic encouragement to a teenager dealing with parentification.
Empathetic comment acknowledges parents’ failure, offers hope for future relationship.
Family shouldn’t exploit you as a maid or a parent
Insensitive comment shows lack of understanding and empathy
It’s not your responsibility to take care of your cousin.
User empathizes with obedient teenager and advises communication with parents
Prioritize yourself and leave when you turn 18. NTA.
Don’t let anyone guilt you into sacrificing your own future.
Encouraging response to NTA’s struggle with parents’ decision
Supportive comment applauding teenager’s maturity and suggesting forgiveness.
Neglected while caring for special needs cousin
Overwhelming workload for a teenager, it’s not slavery but close
Heartbreaking comment highlights parental neglect
Supportive comment reminds OP they’re not the a-hole.
NTA. Advice on how to escape overbearing foster situation
NTA commenter rightfully calls out parents for neglecting their own children.
NTA suggests a compromise to live with friend’s parents part-time
Being a third parent is tough, but you’re NTA for stepping up
Encouragement to seek help and escape abusive parentification
Advice for Aimee’s sister on how to deal with unfair treatment
Public school special Ed is FREE and parents are exploiting you
Heartbreaking comment about parentification and losing one’s mind.
Parenting high needs special needs kids without proper support is tough
NTA for not wanting to take care of special needs cousin. Plan your exit carefully
Teen sacrifices childhood for special needs siblings and cousin
Teenager burdened with caregiving and chores, needs help and support
Standing up for yourself is important, seek help if needed
Parent’s decision to foster cousin ruined OP’s childhood. ♀️
Take charge of your future and move out asap
Heartbreaking comment about being forced into parenthood at young age.
Prioritize your own well-being, make a plan, and get away
Engaging comment suggesting self-reflection and research for the OP.
Concerned commenter advises teenager to flee from overwhelming responsibility
Teenager expresses resentment towards parents’ decision to foster special needs cousin
Teen feels like a parent while her parents foster another child
Sibling of two autistic brothers shares similar experience and offers advice
Sibling shares trauma of being parentified & supports OP
Parental expectations can be overwhelming. Set boundaries for your future!
Teen feels neglected by parents who expect her to be maid
“NTA. Involving CPS may be necessary. Parents can’t force unpaid caregiving.”
Teen’s parents fail to take responsibility for their choices
Encouraging comment to exit and report parents to social worker
Heartfelt support for a teenager who became a caregiver. ❤️
Harsh comment suggests reporting parents for child neglect and doubts their eligibility to foster.
Seeking help as a victim of parentification.
NTA. Parents expecting too much from teen.
Heartbreaking. Child’s plea to be a ‘normal kid’ ignored.
Don’t take on more responsibility, your childhood matters too! ♀️
Encouraging reply to NTA comment and advice about prioritizing education
NTA. Commenter sympathizes with OP’s situation and advises to leave at 18.
NTA. It’s important for you to set up your life
Support for fostering cousin, but parents need better plan without OP
NTA. Being parentified to an extreme degree is not okay
User suggests reporting parents for abusive behavior towards teenager.
Consider seeking emancipation or reporting neglect/abuse to mandated reporter
Don’t let your parents take away your childhood/teenhood
Sibling as unpaid nanny? That’s not cool, NTA.
Fiery comment suggests mistreatment from parents, offers no context.
Empathetic comment supports teen’s brave decision to set boundaries
Teen feels unfairly burdened by special needs cousin. NTA.
Teenager unfairly burdened with caretaker role for family members ❌
Protect your mental health and contact CPS for support. NTA.
Don’t parentfy your other children, focus on living your life!
Difficult situation for teen, advice given for future planning
NTA OP’s parents shouldn’t have taken in special needs cousin
User defends teenager’s decision to leave after parents’ choices
Heartfelt comment acknowledges OP’s efforts and family’s shortcomings ❤️
Prioritize education, seek scholarships & avoid guilt trips
Parents’ decision to foster cousin is forced parentification and abuse
User expresses frustration over unfair parental expectations
Supportive comment for 16-year-old’s situation, encouraging them to explore other options
Teen’s burden of caring for special needs cousin, suggested CPS intervention.
Heartbreaking situation of a child raising siblings. NTA.
Being parentified by neglectful parents while taking care of a special needs cousin is abuse . OP, take care of yourself and say no to their unreasonable demands.
NTA turned into third parent, parents need to realize their mistake
