The Parentifying Starts Early

I was working in the shoe section of a large thrift store, right next to the toy section, putting out shoes. Over in the toy section was a stroller with a baby who was maybe just over a year old, and further down the aisle sat a toddler, maybe three, with his back to the stroller, playing with an assortment of toys that he had pulled onto the floor.

I began to look around, as there was no adult anywhere near, and I was about to flag down a manager to get them to do something about it when a woman came along with a cart full of clothing.

She proceeded to bawl out the three-year-old, using rather inappropriate language, because he was not watching his baby brother, but playing with toys instead!

What causes a parent to think that a three-year-old is anywhere near old enough or responsible enough to babysit a baby?