In the typical order of things, parents give, and children receive. Sometimes, though, this gets reversed…

So, what is parentification?

Parentification is when the parent delegates their duties to a child, and the child ends up with too many parental responsibilities and sometimes even takes the role of caregiver to keep the family functioning. Parentification can help a child gain competence and other positive benefits, but it can also be detrimental.

Lee Ann elaborates on the following topics throughout this episode:

• How and why parentification happens.
• Instrumental vs. emotional parentification.
• Sibling-focused parentification.
• The symptoms of a child experiencing parentification.
• Tips on how we as parents can change our behaviors and be aware of the responsibilities we place on our children.

“We are in this Together: Retrospective Parentification, Sibling Relationships, and Self-Esteem,” by Judyta Borchet, is a great article to understand parentification better.

Healthline also has excellent resources regarding these topics: “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Work,” “Teen Depression,” and “What is Parentification?”

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