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Author Topic: about siblings taking care of younger siblings  (Read 5873 times)

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Offline solitary Man

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about siblings taking care of younger siblings
« on: November 30, 2023, 08:30:43 PM »
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  • ok I agree that siblings should help their parents with their children, but I'm against them raising or spending most of the time, I'll list the reasons!
    1 This will tire you and make your youth tiring and frustrating
    2 possible resentment towards parents and siblings
    3 Will Make Him Resent Having Children
    4 there were cases of people who raised their siblings and were traumatized and did not want to have any more children

    So yes, I'm in favor of siblings helping their parents, but it shouldn't be a burden for them.

    (You can excommunicate me now!)

    Offline TheRealMcCoy

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #1 on: November 30, 2023, 08:46:32 PM »
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  •  I totally agree. There was in the news a story about a traditional catholic boy that was setup by an undercover FBI agent. He had been tasked with caring for an elderly grandmother all by himself. If this burden had not been placed on him more than likely he would have never gone through the trauma with the FBI.  Although daughters are better suited for child care I have seen large families where the older daughters were tasked with caring for younger siblings. They delayed their own marriages because they were not anxious to start families of their own. But in many cases this just can't be helped. Children are obligated to help their parents.


    Offline Matthew

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #2 on: November 30, 2023, 08:55:05 PM »
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  • You could say the same thing about teaching boys how to work. Of course they're not going to like it. But hopefully they'll get used to working, so it becomes less than a huge deal, and it won't be an issue.

    But you can't change human nature. Everyone, male or female, would rather kick back with some passive entertainment than do real work.
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    Online FarmerWife

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #3 on: November 30, 2023, 09:20:35 PM »
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  • Well instead of changing diapers or babysitting, maybe they could get a head start on cooking lunch/dinner (peeling/cutting vegetables)? Or run errands? And they'd be able to learn life skills instead of struggling with how to do them as an adult. I admit, I still need to improve on my cooking skills and I don't have alot of time these days with a baby. With all this technology these days, chores aren't as time-consuming compared to back then. As well as ordering essentials online and grocery pick-ups. 

    And it's a different story if you take advantage of the older kids so that you can go out all the time and have your "me" time.

    Offline Nadir

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #4 on: November 30, 2023, 09:26:08 PM »
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  • ok I agree that siblings should help their parents with their children, but I'm against them raising or spending most of the time, I'll list the reasons!
    1 This will tire you and make your youth tiring and frustrating
    2 possible resentment towards parents and siblings
    3 Will Make Him Resent Having Children
    4 there were cases of people who raised their siblings and were traumatized and did not want to have any more children

    So yes, I'm in favor of siblings helping their parents, but it shouldn't be a burden for them.

    (You can excommunicate me now!)

    Do you have your own experience in mind solitary Man, or is this a hypothetical question?

    An extremely modern and unnatural perspective. What greater gift can you give a child than a younger brother or sister. Why would a child resent having to spent time helping their mother with a younger brother or sister. 

    Today children are raised to expect everything and to give nothing. Love in the family is a rarity for many in this affluent materialistic society where children are seen of little value. It is uncommon to be taught responsibility and care for others. 

    How many saints were raised by a sibling? You might be surprised. Was St Therese of the Child Jesús a burden and a cause of resentment to her big sisters? She is the first one who comes to mind.

    Better for a child to be cared for by a sibling than sent to a day care as is done in the so-called civilised word.

    Help of Christians, guard our land from assault or inward stain,
    Let it be what God has planned, His new Eden where You reign.

    +RIP 2024


    Offline TheRealMcCoy

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #5 on: November 30, 2023, 09:46:13 PM »
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  • I have no daughter so I was forced to depend on my oldest son to help me when I had babies to take care of. He changed diapers and fed them. He was a great help to me and he's very good with young children now. 

    Offline HeavyHanded

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #6 on: December 01, 2023, 06:42:07 AM »
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  • My apostate parents only had 2 children, so my first and only exposure to babies and children was when I started having them. After 5 I still struggle with the noise/tantrums/mess. Our oldest helps out quite a bit, even if its just holding a crying baby for a few minutes so we can have free hands. I think it is good for them, but it is important not to burden them with tasks that are above them, or give them tasks just because you don't want to do them. In our house there is never a shortage of work to be done and everyone needs to help out in any way they can. I have seen a very immature 9 year old boy "watching" a 1 year old in the cry room at Mass while the mother sits in the pew, which I do not think is appropriate.

    Offline solitary Man

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #7 on: December 01, 2023, 08:12:23 AM »
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  • You could say the same thing about teaching boys how to work. Of course they're not going to like it. But hopefully they'll get used to working, so it becomes less than a huge deal, and it won't be an issue.

    But you can't change human nature. Everyone, male or female, would rather kick back with some passive entertainment than do real work.
    I explained it very well, don't accuse me of saying to leave them doing nothing! I didn't say they wouldn't do anything but putting in all the work of taking care of their siblings isn't going to do them much good! And yes, I'm in favor of helping them work, whether it's a job or at home, but it's important that they have free time


    Offline Pax Vobis

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #8 on: December 01, 2023, 08:51:36 AM »
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  • Quote
    1 This will tire you and make your youth tiring and frustrating
    2 possible resentment towards parents and siblings
    3 Will Make Him Resent Having Children
    4 there were cases of people who raised their siblings and were traumatized and did not want to have any more children
    I agree with you, generally, on points 1 and 2.  It's not the siblings responsibility to raise their younger siblings.  But...it is their responsibility to help out the family.  It can be a fine line.

    Points 3 and 4 are connected, in that, you relate stories where siblings didn't want to have children after their family situations.  I would say this is God's will, because raising children isn't easy and for a teenager to realize this isn't their life's calling, at such a young age, is a blessing.  On the other hand, some of this "trauma" might be temporary and the desire to have children may return later, once the young adult is able to move out of the house, and have some independence.

    There's also plenty of opposite cases, (which is the more common situation in Trad families, in my experience), that older siblings become very good with children, and this prepares them for their vocation of marriage.

    Offline solitary Man

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #9 on: December 01, 2023, 09:16:00 AM »
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  • Do you have your own experience in mind solitary Man, or is this a hypothetical question?

    An extremely modern and unnatural perspective. What greater gift can you give a child than a younger brother or sister. Why would a child resent having to spent time helping their mother with a younger brother or sister.

    Today children are raised to expect everything and to give nothing. Love in the family is a rarity for many in this affluent materialistic society where children are seen of little value. It is uncommon to be taught responsibility and care for others.

    How many saints were raised by a sibling? You might be surprised. Was St Therese of the Child Jesús a burden and a cause of resentment to her big sisters? She is the first one who comes to mind.

    Better for a child to be cared for by a sibling than sent to a day care as is done in the so-called civilised word.
    I will respond to your objections
    1 I am of Italian descent, yes, I have experience
    I met both my own family, as well as other people and friends
    2 modern perspective? I know people aged 70 who said it was very difficult to take care of their siblings, isn't it natural? Just ask and see what people say! About the present, I met people who loved their brothers very much, but admitted that it was very tiring to take care of them, they often took care of them all alone! what child would be resentful, I'm sorry to say that you are a person who doesn't know how to read well, donating your time and helping your parents, it's a virtue, but imagine, not being able to rest and barely being able to study because of this task because You are the main responsible ! That's why these are the cases I mentioned!
    3 I partly agree with you, but family love also comes from the support of parents and I never said they shouldn't help and again you accuse me of being a heretic !because I don't read well or because you want to accuse me of being a heretic and a modernist for the pleasure of your own ego!
    4 saints, in fact, however, remember that parents often had to work and in the case of Saint Therese, there were several older sisters taking care of one, the cases I mentioned were 1 or 2 taking care of several alone and remember- If the church says that the ideal is for parents to raise!
    Now I ask you, do you have experience?
    Do you live in a Catholic bubble?
    Furthermore, you have a very unempathetic and romantic view of the world!
    conclusion
    I never said that brothers shouldn't help
    Children must help their parents and parents must teach their children the virtue of work, both at work and at home.

    Offline solitary Man

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #10 on: December 01, 2023, 09:27:52 AM »
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  • I totally agree. There was in the news a story about a traditional catholic boy that was setup by an undercover FBI agent. He had been tasked with caring for an elderly grandmother all by himself. If this burden had not been placed on him more than likely he would have never gone through the trauma with the FBI.  Although daughters are better suited for child care I have seen large families where the older daughters were tasked with caring for younger siblings. They delayed their own marriages because they were not anxious to start families of their own. But in many cases this just can't be helped. Children are obligated to help their parents.
    I completely agree with you! And yes, there are cases where parents work and it is not possible, but I talk about cases where it is possible
    In fact, I am in favor of teaching the virtues of work and homemaking to children, however it is important (if possible for them to have their rest)


    Offline TheRealMcCoy

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #11 on: December 01, 2023, 09:32:31 AM »
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  • I completely agree with you! And yes, there are cases where parents work and it is not possible, but I talk about cases where it is possible
    In fact, I am in favor of teaching the virtues of work and homemaking to children, however it is important (if possible for them to have their rest)
      Being the mother of 3 sons I can assure you the greater threat is for children to turn out to be lazy. The case of "overworked"
    children must be exceedingly rare.  2 of my adult sons live with me and despite the fact that I have ample income of my own I require them to pay rent to live here. So they are forced to work. Yes they should have Sunday as a day of rest.

    Offline Emile

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #12 on: December 01, 2023, 10:43:26 AM »
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  • I will respond to your objections
    1 I am of Italian descent, yes, I have experience
    I met both my own family, as well as other people and friends
    2 modern perspective? I know people aged 70 who said it was very difficult to take care of their siblings, isn't it natural? Just ask and see what people say! About the present, I met people who loved their brothers very much, but admitted that it was very tiring to take care of them, they often took care of them all alone! what child would be resentful, I'm sorry to say that you are a person who doesn't know how to read well, donating your time and helping your parents, it's a virtue, but imagine, not being able to rest and barely being able to study because of this task because You are the main responsible ! That's why these are the cases I mentioned!
    3 I partly agree with you, but family love also comes from the support of parents and I never said they shouldn't help and again you accuse me of being a heretic !because I don't read well or because you want to accuse me of being a heretic and a modernist for the pleasure of your own ego!
    4 saints, in fact, however, remember that parents often had to work and in the case of Saint Therese, there were several older sisters taking care of one, the cases I mentioned were 1 or 2 taking care of several alone and remember- If the church says that the ideal is for parents to raise!
    Now I ask you, do you have experience?
    Do you live in a Catholic bubble?
    Furthermore, you have a very unempathetic and romantic view of the world!
    conclusion
    I never said that brothers shouldn't help
    Children must help their parents and parents must teach their children the virtue of work, both at work and at home.
    :confused:

    In the Italian language is the correct term for a person that acts as you are acting, "stronzo"?
    I hold it true, whate'er befall;
    I feel it, when I sorrow most;
    'Tis better to have loved and lost
    Than never to have loved at all.
    (In Memoriam A. H. H., 27.13-17 Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

    Online Yeti

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #13 on: December 01, 2023, 11:03:37 AM »
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  • There's also plenty of opposite cases, (which is the more common situation in Trad families, in my experience), that older siblings become very good with children, and this prepares them for their vocation of marriage.
    .

    This.

    This is the norm in traditional Catholic families. The more children a family has, the better they turn out. The older children help raise the younger ones, and are prepared for life themselves, as well as exercised in the virtues of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. They also learn that it is important to help others in life, and that they are not the center of the universe.

    People who come from families with few children learn the opposite of this.

    Offline TheRealMcCoy

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    Re: about siblings taking care of younger siblings
    « Reply #14 on: December 01, 2023, 11:11:35 AM »
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  • People who come from families with few children learn the opposite of this.
    This is absolutely true. Even well-meaning only children are inherently self-centered and thoughtless of others.