As so someone who had this role put on them as a child when my parents split up, I was stuck with this role and am now 33 with kids of my own and I'm still the one to always make sure my mother is ok and having things done for her.I’m sorry but this narrative of her young daughter having to mind her Mammy rots me.
Of course there is nothing wrong with looking out for each other, but if she is reinforcing the idea that she needs to be minded, it’s an unfair burden.
Already I would imagine the eldest feels as though she has to mind the youngest. But this constant wailing into the phone and the first this Withour Daniel and the first that without Daniel is obv seeping through.
She needs to pull her big girl pants on and show some strength to those girls.
In fact I think she needs to do something on her own with them- and not always have tagalongs.
She is raising 3 young girls, and she needs to send the message that their Mammy, who is also a girl, can do anything that she wants to.
I had a friend growing up whose Mam suffered social and other anxiety. The amount of events and things she missed cos she felt she couldn’t leave her Mam- it’s an unfair burden to place on kids
It took its toll so much that I lost some of my own identity as people said I was so much like her and I felt I was my mother rather than myself.
Between that and the toxicity of my family, I am in counselling and have been for near two years.
I feel so sorry for Leah as it's very hard to get away from as you dont want to disappoint your parents.