I hope you don't take my post the wrong way, but I am just going to state how you feel.

It is tough to have a parent that can't be around all the time, but you DO have a parent, and he is doing what he can to keep a roof over your head and food on the table. Which is more than what most people have. My Mother left me when I was 16. My real Dad didn't come into my life until I was 12 (and I don't have much contact with him, his wife hates me) and my Step Dad was an abusive parent much of my childhood. I moved in with my Grandparents which was nice considering the home life I had, but have no contact with my parents or my siblings.

I am not trying to feel sorry for myself, or make you think that my problems are worse than yours, but I am sure your post would bring some strong feelings to other people who are going through or have gone through things similar to you. You're 16 and practically an adult, so you CAN take care of your brother, you'll have to. I was doing that way before 16. You're mature enough to handle it, so I don't know why that factors into your anxiety.

I understand that sacrifices will be made, but they have to be made. I worked 7 days a week from the time I was 18 until just recently. I had NO time for friends, family, or anything else. I did it because I had to. To survive. Which again, isn't intended to make you think that my problems are worse, just to let you know that I get it. I understand. I didn't go around and complain and feel sorry for myself or anything like that, I stepped up made myself even more responsible (if that's possible) and did what I had to do. Recently I was able to quit my second job and now I do get to spend time with my friends, but it took me a long time to be able to do that. A year is a while but it's not an eternity, and unlike me you WILL have the weekends to go and do things, so you shouldn't feel so bad about it right now.

What you need to do is just step up and take responsibility. This happens a lot in single parent families. Just be glad you DO have your Dad and he is trying to do all he can to keep things steady.

Good luck to you.