Parentification is a fancy word for what was happening to my daughter – being forced into adult responsibilities to cover for incapable parents. When Sari called me crying about her “night shift” with her stepmother’s newborn, I knew this was more than typical chores.
My confrontation strategy was simple: kill them with kindness (and baked goods). Arriving with donuts let me bypass defenses and see the truth – an exhausted teenager and two adults in over their heads. When I calmly explained Sari’s failing grades and sleep deprivation, even my stubborn ex couldn’t deny the problem.
The unexpected twist? Colby’s transformation. Through therapy and hard conversations, he’s becoming the father Sari always needed. Now when he visits, he asks about her life instead of handing her a baby. Some lessons come too late, but my daughter learning her worth isn’t tied to her usefulness? That’s priceless.
