I don't want to be a caregiver

But here I am anyway. Husband and I began eldercare for his mother, stepfather, grandmother and their dog eight years ago after his brother died. Now the mother is all that remains. I didn't think it would be eight years. I thought she would get back on her feet but she becomes more dependent as time passes. She doesn't want to do for herself. She likes being taken care of. I've been told by family she has always been like this. I am 36. My youth has been wasted taking care of elderly people. When she is gone, my parents will be very old and will need my help. When do I get a life? When do I get to travel? Do I have to wait until I'm old to live? My sense of responsibility keeps me from abandoning them. How do other people simply walk away from their old ones and get away with it? We didn't ask for this responsibility. It crept up on us (well, mostly ME). It started as a small thing and has now consumed our lives. It's like being a parent to a terminal child, only the child was an accidental pregnancy. I hate my life. Tweet