Our abusive mother took advantage of this “struggle” by laying increasingly costly and difficult responsibilities onto her other children (like surrogate parents). We were expected to cover the needs of our younger siblings, covering the extra expense of bills and debts, even when they weren’t ours. And at one point, expected to supplement her income because she didn’t want to work anymore. She faked an illness (we were unaware) and used it as a means to financially abuse and manipulate her children; often pitting them against one another and controlling the narrative of all family discussions.