Some teens may have to take care of their siblings and say that it is annoying because they are kids themselves. But I didn't have much of a choice. My niece and nephew have lived with me their whole life. I would always get up at 6 am sharp, get myself ready, and then worry about getting Jenny and Ben ready. My niece and nephew lost their mother about a year ago. Ever since then things have changed a lot. I'll never be their mom but I feel as though I have to take on more of that role because they're always with me. Of course they have their dad, but a dad is nothing like a mom.

My parents and brother leave early to work, so Jenny and Ben are with me in the mornings. At first I'd complain about them not wanting to get up and dressed. I'd make sure they would brush their teeth and get ready for school; this was our routine for five years. There were many hard times where I would get frustrated with them. They were just kids, so I couldn’t really blame them. They had lost their mom, and were going through enough. There were times where I'd be helping them get ready for school only to have them tell me, “You're not my mom,” which I'm not. I had to reassure myself that because they were little, they didn't realize what I was doing for them, while being a teenager and also going to school as well. I would pick them up and walk home with them after school. My parents and brother typically would take another hour to get home, so I’d often cook for my niece and nephew as well.

I had many mixed feelings about having to take care of them. It was a love/hate relationship having to step up, but I only complained to myself. I always thought how it would be if I wasn't here and how they would have had to take care of themselves and get ready for school on their own. That made me realize that it did feel nice because they knew they had me to help. I felt it was my responsibility and duty to make sure they were well taken care of and prepared for their day.

The responsibility of taking care of my niece and nephew helped me develop critical skills like punctuality and organization. For example, I learned to manage my time effectively to ensure they were ready for school on time, and I developed strong organizational skills to keep track of their schedules and needs. Overall, the experience of having to mature so fast, and taking care of my niece and nephew was, and still is, a mix of emotions. From a sense of duty and love to moments of stress and pride in being there for them. It taught me a lot of responsibility. Ultimately it gave me a stronger bond with them and I enjoy taking on the role of a caregiver.

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