When I was little, my middle brother had epilepsy and other health challenges, and a lot of my parent's attention went to him, by default.
Without anyone saying it, my eldest brother and I picked up the message:
“We mustn't be a burden; we must help out wherever we can.”
So, we became the responsible ones. The goody two-shoes. Hyper-Achievers. Controllers. People-Pleasers.
Always reliable, doing the "right thing", in control of everything and often putting our own needs last to make sure everyone else was okay.
That pattern followed me into adulthood, and I only recently realised how much it still shapes my life today.
🌿 What about you?
Were you the responsible one in your family, or did you play a different role?