Since I was the oldest of 5 kids, I had most of the responsibility of taking care of them. That included meals and usually getting a couple of them ready. My mom suffered from severe clinical depression. My stepdad would say something, she'd twist it and go back to her bedroom, where she spent most of my childhood and teen years.
I don't know how many times we were "tapped" for not paying strict attention or taken outside. Especially the younger ones. I did what i could to save them from it.
My mom coped with it by hiding in her bedroom for years. My stepdad slept on the couch.
shelley