Rylee Mielke

“Being an older sister. Being a maternal figure at such a young age, forgetting that you could’ve had a childhood too. The balance of being an adult at the age of 8. Providing, caring, and deeply loving your siblings as if they were your own children. Looking back at the childhood I missed, I got to watch them grow into the beautiful humans they are today. I got a happy mother’s day text before I was even a mother. The acknowledgement of the work, and love that I put in. Everyday I ask myself if it was worth losing the play, losing the naive nature of my being, becoming the mature adult I am today. The truth is, I wouldn’t change a thing, I wouldn’t change helping my dad be a “stay at home mom”. I wouldn’t change being there for them while my mom provided for a family of six. I wouldn’t change being an older sister.”

Gill Awson