The Day We Stopped Being Kids

I always thought being the oldest meant I was in charge and protected my younger brother. But last week, when Mom made us grow up and told us to start paying rent for our rooms, it felt like she stopped seeing us as her babies. It's not that I mind helping out or taking responsibility, but there was a part of me that wanted to be the little kid who could just come home after school without worrying about bills. Now we're just another set of roommates in the house.