Dear world,

As much speculation as there is, I am a 16-year-old high school student. Yes, I know, I act like a 30-year-old mom. My overly mature behavior started during my middle school days, and people did not consider me a “normal” preteen. I did not go to the movies on Friday nights with my friends or attend parties. Instead, my nights consisted of something much, much different.

I came home from a long day of school, and let my dog out of his kennel. My dog requires just as much attention as a child, which is why I treat him like one. I have to feed him, take him to the bathroom, give him baths, and brush his teeth. I’ve even had to give him a timeout before. After my dog was taken care of, I moved on to my next mission. Since my dad can’t cook anything without burning it, and my mom hates cooking, dinner had become my responsibility, and trying to cook something that satisfies the whole family had shaped up to be quite the task.

I love cleaning, and organizing. They are my two favorite hobbies. In fact, I frequently find myself cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, organizing the main floor, and doing the laundry. The smells of Tide and Clorox wipes filled the house, as the countertops and floors began to sparkle. As I saw the loads of laundry being dispersed, and the dishes in the sink declining, my heart filled with glee.

Even my friends see me as their second mother. They ask me for advice, they come to me when they feel sick, and they text me before bedtime. I drive them around and text them to make sure they’ve completed their homework. At sleepovers, my motherly instincts kick in and I am the first one to turn the lights out, because I know how cranky they will be if they don’t get enough sleep. My nights consist of reminding them about upcoming meetings, practices, and due dates.

Now that I drive, I’ve taken my motherly behavior to the next level. I run errands, put gas in the car, and pick up my sister from school on the weekends. I do all of the grocery shopping, and every week I drive my dad to the airport. Whenever something needs to be done, I’m there to do it. Just like a mother.