Should I continue school or pause and save up to move out of my moms house (short version + long version)
I need one outside view advice on what to do. To attempt to make a long story short . My mom had triplets 3 years ago, and as the eldest sibling\sister you can guess that I help out alot and more. But between work, school and the kids, I'm more than burnt out and exhausted. School is no longer fulfilling, work can be taxing, and i come home to chaos everyday. Im starting to think I should take a break from school and work to save up money so I can move out, but my mother discourages me when i try to bring it up.--
[Longer version but more of a tangent]
the triplets were born my last year of high-school. I became parent #3, I literally slept with and got up with one of the kids every 2 hours every night. My mom had to go back to work to pay off the medical bills and had to go out of state. With my step dad also working, I did everything. I cooked, cleaned, fed all kids, went to class, tutoring, and stayed up late till step dad got back. But I found out years later that he took extra shifts when he didn't have to, so he didn't have to be home with the newborns. During all of this and following years, step dad was completely incompetent and never took initiative. So I basically took over his job as a father. At the end of high-school my friends did a shitty thing to me and I stopped talking to them, meaning I had nobody outside my parents to talk to (I'm very introverted so friend making is hard) mom changed jobs to be at home more but worked 5 days a weeks and took a major pay cut. She asked me to get a job to help with bills and work around thier schedule. So now I'm in college, working and helping with the kids. Over the years my parents marriage deteriorates, but she still tries to hold on to it. The relationship between me and her also is starting to diminish but she doesn't put in the effort that she does with her husband, leaving me resentful/saddened. Instead i have to be her therapist, listening to her woes and worries but I'm not allowed to be emotional when I'm distressed. Time and time against she has promised things will change, that her and him will take over with the kids more but it never happens. I've never been more depressed and alone than I have in a house of 6 people. They rely too heavily on me and I have no time for my wants or needs. But im to scared to leave, i have no idea how to be an adult. I dont have a car or money and the economy is so bad I dont think I can afford to leave. Unfortunately this post isn't nearly long enough to put in all the things that have happened the past 3 years but it's the best summary for it.
Posted Sep 28, 2025, 1:40 PM UTC