Parenting Before You’re Adulting

(I’m sitting with my siblings in church. Our mom has decided to stay home and our dad is performing usher duties. As the oldest, I’m left in charge of my three younger brothers, who are constantly squabbling. I have my work cut out for me: the first brother, fourteen at the time, is incredibly sensitive to anything the second brother says, and the second brother, who is nine years old, rarely has anything nice to say. The second brother also constantly picks fights with the third, who is seven, and then calls him a baby for reacting, which only aggravates the situation. It’s frustrating, especially since I’m only sixteen. An elderly lady sits to my right and hears me trying to keep the younger two from throwing punches before the sermon even begins.)

Little Old Lady: “Are you the mom today?”

Me: *looks at brothers, who are arguing again* “At this point, I might as well be.”

(I think the little old lady felt some sympathy when I had to intervene in the brewing fight.)