A child is supposed to worry about homework, friendships, school trips and what they're going to wear tomorrow. They are not supposed to worry about whether there is enough food in the house. They are not supposed to be checking whether their mother has taken her medication, making sure their younger siblings have eaten, cooking dinner, getting them ready for school or wondering
what will happen if the electricity is cut off. And yet, for many children, this is their reality.
When a parent is seriously ill, living with a disability, struggling with addiction, or simply unable to cope, children can quietly step into the role of caregiver. They become the responsible one.
The one who doesn't cause problems. The one who knows when Mom is having a bad day.
The one who comforts their younger siblings. And sometimes, they become so good at being the adult that nobody stops to ask whether they're still getting the chance to be a child. Today we're asking: What happens to a child who grows up taking care of everyone else? Does it make them resilient — or does it force them to carry emotional responsibilities that can follow them into adulthood?
And perhaps most importantly: when a child becomes the caregiver, who is caring for the child?