Depends Allwyn, for me it was the opposite and maybe a bit too much, i was 6 when my sister's born and i had to take care of her when she was a baby, change, bottles, take her to the nurse before i was going at school and same thing in the evening, believe i was only six, i was so scared alone in this cold and dark house, it was too much, i know my mother didn't have the choice, but moreless this is my chilhood, when i was 25 and bought my house, i realised i changed of house 20 times !!!! this is another part of my childhood. Grew up also in Gypsy's camps, which was not really easy too and violence, violence, violence. Not terrible ..... that's why for my kids i try to do my best, i want they'll have good memories later.