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Ruthie on Teens Raising their Siblings

Ruthie Steel - Toledo, Ohio

Ruthie shares about her friends, aged fifteen and eighteen, who are forced into "being parents" for their nieces/nephews or siblings while the childrens' parents have to work most of the day.

Ruthie shares the story of one of her close friends who is eighteen years old and the primary caregiver for two of his siblings. His mom, a single mother, is supporting four children and is unable to take care of the children, so her high school aged son often takes care of his younger siblings. One of them is very young and calls him "Dad." Her friend also works, and is preparing to go to college next year, and shouldn't have to take care of two children.

She also shares about another friend, fifteen years old, who takes care of her sister's two children while her sister works three jobs.