Discover how growing up as a parentified eldest daughter can lead to feelings of overwhelm, resentment, or guilt in motherhood—and what you can do to break free from these patterns.

For many eldest daughters, growing up meant becoming “the third parent” before getting to be a child. This experience, often called parentification when expanded into a chronic pattern, can shape how we move through the world: how we relate, how we work, how we love, and even how we make sense of our needs.

The role of the eldest daughter in many families, particularly in immigrant or high-stress households, is often shaped by a set of expectations that can go beyond the typical responsibilities of sibling relationships.

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