Reddit Reassures A 20-Year-Old She's Not Selfish For Moving Out After Taking Care Of Her 4 Younger Siblings For Years In Place Of Their Neglectful Mum
She was juggling her studies, part-time job, housekeeping, and child-rearing while their mother was busy partying.
A 20-year-old Reddit user says she has spent years acting like the parent in her own home, and now she wants out.
She looks after four younger siblings, including a 9-year-old boy, two little girls aged 5 and 3, and a 3-month-old baby, while also cooking, cleaning, and handling the household chores her mother leaves behind. When she finally told her mum she planned to move into an apartment with a close friend, the reaction was immediate and ugly.
Now she is being called selfish for wanting a life of her own, and Reddit had plenty to say about that.
OP finally snapped and told her mum that she has been putting her responsibilities first for as long as she can remember.
She said it's not her responsibility to raise her siblings. Their mum thinks OP is entitled and spoiled for thinking this way.
The mum then told the children that OP was leaving them behind because she was only interested in herself, right before she sauntered off to another party, leaving the children upset for OP to console them the whole night.
Few_Blood1369You can read the infuriating story below:
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Reddit users wasted no time rallying behind OP and assuring her she wasn't a jerk for wanting to move out.
Reddit users wasted no time rallying behind OP and assuring her she wasn't a jerk for wanting to move out.
RedditDK2
OP doubts their mother will be able to cope without her, given that she wasn't a great parent even with a partner.
Few_Blood1369
OP has taken on a major responsibility that wasn't hers; no one can fault her for moving out after all these years.
Diesel-King
One commenter focused on the practical fallout if the family situation gets even worse.
It's important for the children to know how to contact OP in case they go into foster care.
AdGroundbreaking4397
One commenter gave suggestions on how to prepare the siblings in case of emergencies and which adults they can trust.
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They were steering clear of the topic, and OP needed to know she wasn't the a**hole.
Incendio33
Taking care of four children (that young!!!) all by yourself sounds like too much for anyone.
CanadianinCornwall
If worse comes to worst, OP might end up being legally responsible for her siblings.
Few_Blood1369
Another commenter thought the whole situation was too messy to ignore.
This echoes the situation with a woman refusing to let her sister move back in after losing her job, while her kids are involved.
Commenters think she should think twice about this choice.
orion591
But it's a complex situation that needs professional mediation.
According-Ad8525
When OP moves out, her 9-year-old brother will take on the mantle of raising their siblings.
nursesarahrn78
They think the mum will try everything in her power to jeopardize OP's plans.
rpsls
Where is the dad of these kids?
Corfiz74
Apparently, OP and her siblings do not have the same father.
RedditDK2
There's no reason for OP's dad to take care of children that are not his.
Few_Blood1369
To be honest, she's probably the only parent these kids know.
RedditDK2
The kids might even have different fathers, and OP has no clue where to find them.
Few_Blood1369
Reddit kept coming back to the same point, OP has already done more than enough.
Do not fall for the guilt trip, OP.
Pineapple_Mango_13
If you don't want to raise children, then don't have any!
ComprehensiveState11
It's too late for regrets because the baby is already here.
Few_Blood1369
Just based on the story, the mother is in no way, shape, or form a responsible adult.
ComprehensiveState11
Project much?
GilmourD
OP is stretched to the thinnest.
Few_Blood1369
There is no doubt that the children will have a difficult time once OP moves out, but she is doing nothing wrong by choosing herself. It's now time for their mum to step up, but we highly doubt she will.
The responsibility will most likely transfer to OP's 9-year-old brother if their mum continues her carefree lifestyle. For the nth time, if you can't raise children responsibly, then don't have any!
May this kind of guilt trip never work again.
Still unsure where to draw the line? See what happened when a woman refused her sister and kids moving in during a crisis.
