Basically, I’m 18 and I have to look after my younger siblings for three hours every Saturday while my stepdad works and mom goes to the gym and whatnot. I don’t enjoy looking after them. They’re annoying and bratty and because their dad isn’t home they think they can do what they want. Any attempt of discipline is met with hysterical crying and screaming when mom gets home.
I hate it. I feel so burnt out. However, I can’t just refuse, as my stepdad is using my phone as a bargaining chip. If I don’t do it, I lose my phone permanently.
Which would be much of an issue, except my real dad lives overseas and currently has cancer. It’s the only way I can keep in contact with him, and I’m terrified he’s going to die and I won’t know if they take it away.
It’s also the only way I can talk to his family, who I miss a lot.
This whole situation has been getting increasingly worse. I feel burnt out all the time. I hate having this responsibility.
On Saturday I sat them down and told them I am done being a second mom. I will not be taking care of the boys anymore, no matter what. Stepdad of course threatened to take my phone away, which devolved into a fight, where I accused him of trying to destroy my life.
He told me I ought to be grateful because he’d “let my mom keep me” instead of tossing me into foster care with the other ungrateful brats. Two of his bio kids are in foster care because their mom died and he gave up his rights.
I turned to my mom and asked how she felt comfortable with him abusing and parentifying me. She got her hackles up and stated that babysitting is a normal teen duty, and I should be grateful I get any reward for it at all, as most teens don’t.
Since then tensions have been high. He’s constantly going crazy and mom keeps telling me it’s my fault, and I ought to apologise for hurting his feelings.
My real dad is telling me I need to smooth everything over, for the boys sake. I disagree. I think my stepdad needs to realise I’m not his live-in maid. Dad told me I’m no better than him, letting the kids suffer, knowing I can fix it.