When my sister arrived, it was over for me.

Immediately. Yeah.

I was a kid. And from that moment, I had to be an adult.

<h2>What I carried</h2>

To be honest, at home there was a lot that needed carrying and not enough hands. So it landed on me. I ended up carrying what a grown man in the house would carry, and I carried responsibility for my sister too. I was a child, you know, and I was doing a grown-up's job. Of course that made no sense at all. It still did not stop me from doing it.

Often at night, I was the one who had to get my little sister out of bed.

<blockquote>I was a kid carrying a grown-up's weight.</blockquote>

<figure><img src="https://ezycourse.b-cdn.net/2104/cmv0k58j80bkq01z545g606bt.jpg" alt="Chenzo sitting cross-legged on a sofa, looking out of a rain-spotted window at green plants, with a soft smile." style="width:100%;max-width:440px;border-radius:12px;display:block;margin:20px auto;"/></figure>

<h2>What it cost</h2>

I carried two feelings I wanted to let go of. The feeling that I was not safe. And the feeling that I could not trust anyone. When you become an adult too early, you never really learn that you are allowed to be a kid. Everything becomes your job. Yeah.

If you were the strong one in your family, the one who held it together, the one everybody leaned on, you may know exactly what I mean. It does not feel like a heavy backpack. It feels like who you are.

<h2>Putting it down</h2>

Here is what I learned to ask myself. It is not complicated, but it is not easy.

What am I carrying that was never mine?

Who gave it to me, and did they ever ask?

If I could put one thing down today, which one would it be?

Put one on paper. Just one. You do not have to fix it, you know. You only have to see that it is a weight, and not who you are.

I am still a person who knows how to carry a lot. That is not going away. What changed is that I choose what I carry now.

<figure><img src="https://ezycourse.b-cdn.net/2104/cmv0k59iw0a2a01z75xsvdiy6.jpg" alt="Chenzo sitting cross-legged on a sheepskin rug among large plants, holding a bundle of dried herbs and a small bowl, looking up with a calm expression." style="width:100%;max-width:440px;border-radius:12px;display:block;margin:20px auto;"/></figure>

So anyway. If you were the little adult, I see you. You did a grown-up's job as a kid, and you did it. That says something about who you are.

If you want to look at what you are carrying together, you can <a href="https://cal.com/chenzoholisticcoaching/free-30-min-online-discovery-session-discover-your-next-step">book a free discovery call</a> with me. Thirty minutes, no pressure.

With love, Chenzo Holistic Coaching Founder of The Purpose Path Podcast

When my sister arrived, I had to grow up overnight. If you were the little adult in your family, this is for you, and here is how to start putting it down.

The Child Who Became the Adult Too Early

When my sister was born, I had to become an adult overnight

Read essays on somatic healing, emotional trauma, sensitivity, and finding purpose. Written by Chenzo, holistic coach, empathic healer, tarot reader, and founder of The Purpose Path Podcast. New posts weekly.


Chenzo Holistic Coaching Blog: Somatic Healing, Sensitivity & Purpose

Read essays on somatic healing, emotional trauma, sensitivity, and finding purpose. Written by Chenzo, holistic coach, empathic healer, tarot reader, and founder of The Purpose Path Podcast. New posts weekly.

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When my sister was born, I had to become an adult overnight

When my sister was born, I had to become an adult overnight

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