Adolescent parentification

Fred: Oh dear, looks like trouble’s brewing – the guardian angel better fly fast to stop a total disaster!
Sophie: I know that from experience. As a big sister, you start out playing with your small siblings as in early life with dolls, but over time they develop a will of their own and really keep you on your toes. But you take on those motherly duties willingly because you are so eager to be “grown-up.”
Fred: That’s how socialization works. As children take on chores in the family, they learn what they’re capable of and gradually develop reliability, altruism, and so on.
Sophie: However, delegating responsibility to kids can only go so far before it becomes overwhelming for them.
Robert: What’s up with this mother, anyway? She is clearly not coping. She looks totally desperate to me – like she’s being crushed by her problems.
Helen: If the daughter has to act as her guardian angel as well, that’s where the real danger is. Comforting one’s mother every now and then is fine, but trying to protect her long-term isn’t going to end well.
Fred: Definitely not. That completely flips the normal adult-child relationship on its head, so the kids end up stepping into the parent role.
Conrad: A role assignment that’s not age-appropriate will mess with their development and can have nasty effects later on. For example, such people often suffer from “helper syndrome” later in life, namely sacrificing themselves for others to the point of self-harm.
Kate: Honestly, I kind of regret having grown up so fast. I wish I’d had a longer adolescence.
Robert: Well, in exchange you can enjoy hanging out with our kids now.