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Vast-Support-1466 t1_iteg89s wrote

Why are you your brothers caretaker every weekend? That seems a lot to ask, and an impediment on your life.

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carlykerfuffle OP t1_itf4mre wrote

My parents bought a little house in Erie during the pandemic for them to go to on weekends to get away from it all, and they need someone to help my brother. My grandma is senile and on death’s doorstep and my aunts are housebound so it’s my responsibility. He is autistic and intellectually disabled and needs me there to help him with certain things. Once in a while, they’ll take my brother with them to Erie if I’m working all closing shifts, or something else will arise, but usually they go up every weekend to relax. I know these weekends mean a lot to them, they love it up there, and I don’t want to ruin their peace, so I just suck it up and do what I do best: serve others.

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Vast-Support-1466 t1_itfiqi6 wrote

My query was pure, and I'm not here to judge and cause circumspect - do you ever get to visit this place in Erie?

It's awesome that you provide care.

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carlykerfuffle OP t1_itfmt5p wrote

Yeah once in a while. Last time I went up was 4th of July. Fingers crossed that my bosses let me go up for Thanksgiving. I need a goddamn change of scenery.

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Vast-Support-1466 t1_itft57u wrote

I'm (43m) east, near Monroeville now, but spent most of my formative time in the fox chapel area, south north hills? I miss western NY - flat land is boring until it doesn't exist, then in retrospect it was a feature. There isn't much to do in these suburbs, no matter which ones, and driving these hills is such a pain in the ass. But oddly enjoyable tho. Gas and brakes...oy. Pgh proper is not cheap.

There isn't much to do anywhere tho, outside of communities - life is the pleasure we make it. *This* is a fascinating community, and I'm happy to share some space. Pgh is hard, it's all bedroom communities, nuclear family-oriented etc. - which has it's ups, for sure. Oh, the rants I have on Community.

Terribly curious about your "bosses" and what you do. I'm mostly retired, but the work I do perform is focused on security.

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New_Acanthaceae709 t1_itgcgmp wrote

Do your parents work during the week, or just watch your brother?

"I know these weekends mean a lot to them"

Your weekends mean a lot to *you*, too. Or, on your current pace, you cannot sustain it, and will fail at some point. You almost certainly need sustainable balance, not "I exist to serve others until I die".

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HedgeRunner t1_ithiet5 wrote

It's amazing how few upvotes this reply has. Here's an award.

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