Why i have to do this?
My sibling is struggling with addiction, and the conversation is starting about who takes my niece. The assumption, without any consultation, is that I will "step up" because I am the "most stable" in the immediate family. No questions asked.
I have a demanding, career-focused life. I value my quiet time, my travel, and my ability to control my schedule. Taking her in would be a complete derailment of the path I have built for myself.
The cultural expectation is complete sacrifice. I just feel like I should have a choice in how I dedicate my life. Am I a bad person for wanting to keep my career and my peace? When did we decide that kinship care is an automatic, mandatory obligation that supercedes personal goals and happiness? I’m struggling with the huge pressure to just say yes, but my whole being is screaming no. How do I navigate this shift from mandatory duty to personal choice without being a pariah?