My folks are having an 8th child without asking me

"I can't believe what they're expecting me to do."

It's no secret that having a larger family also means having more expenses.

But this 16-year-old is the one who has ended up bearing the brunt of his parents' decision to keep adding to their already big family. 

In an online post, he explained:

"My parents have seven kids. There's me (16m), Cayla (13f), Robin (12m), Sam (10m), Laci (8f), Zoe (6f) and Robbie (4m). They only ever intended to have two kids, and even with Cayla and me alone, they'd still struggle.

"My parents don't have great jobs. We never had much space in our house to begin with and now we're all crammed in."

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"They're not good with money"

He says that he started working at 13 to earn money to buy things he needed, like a laptop.

"We didn't even have internet then. My parents swore they were done with Robbie they'd get us back on track and that I wouldn't need to work just to pay for stuff I needed for school," he continued.

"The weight of being the oldest is already a lot and I have paid for stuff before. I babysit so my parents can work nights or get a break. I take care of the house most days so they can focus on earning money.

"But it's a lot and we're really too big of a family for what we can actually afford. My parents get help from the government but it doesn't go far because they're not good with money or with buying groceries."

"When no baby came right after Robbie, I thought they were serious, and I started to think about my future. I'd love to learn to cook better and work in a restaurant."

Image: IStock

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"I cried a little at the announcement"

On Monday, the parents sat their kids down and told them they were having another baby and that their mum was currently 14 weeks pregnant. Apparently they knew for seven weeks and didn't want to announce it "until they were ready."

"My siblings were mostly surprised but me? I said 'not again.' I think I even cried a little, which caught me off guard because I'm not a crier usually," the teen admits.

"This was apparently enough to break me though. My parents got so angry at me and told me to check my attitude.

"I told them they gave me this attitude by being so reckless and putting so much on me and now they've broken their promise and we're going to struggle even more than before.

"My family feel like a weight I have to carry and not something I'm blessed with. They're a responsibility on me, a burden."

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"Your parents are irresponsible"

The internet's collective heart broke for the teen and they reassured him that he shouldn't have to have this sort of responsibility at his age.

"Your feelings are perfectly reasonable. You still need to think about your future; don't let their decision to have another child derail you. Keep saving. Groceries are NOT your responsibility," one wrote.

A second added: "Your parents are irresponsible, and you have every right to be upset. This is going to affect you and your siblings. You've been parentified a lot and they no doubt expect you to take on more. Let them know you will leave as soon as you can."

Some even urged the poster to contact authorities, with this person saying: "It's way past time to call child protection. This is a dangerous and unhealthy situation for all the kids.

"They will not survive and will struggle even more. Your parents should not be having kids they can't afford. "Trust child protection, they will find a way to help and keep the kids together while they figure things out with your parents."

Others told the teen to get out as soon as he can.

"Whatever you do, you must leave your home," one advised. "It is going to hurt when it happens.

"You will be guilted about leaving, and your next sibling Cayla will likely end up taking on the responsibilities that you have, now.

"Make a plan. Keep it secret. Do not tell anyone in your family. Get your own bank account if you can. Leave as soon as possible after turning 18. Even if it is staying with a friend or a relative. Google 'parentification.' That is what has happened to you. Wishing you luck in the future."

Originally published as My folks are having an 8th child without asking me