The purpose of this study was to determine if well siblings in families with a child with cystic fibrosis receive less dependent care, as defined by Orem, than well siblings in families without children with chronic illness. Nineteen mothers of children with cystic fibrosis and a well sibling and 19 mothers of only well children completed the Dependent Care Agent Instrument. In this population, no significant differences were found in a mother's performance of dependent-care activities for well siblings of children with cystic fibrosis and well siblings in families without children with a chronic illness. The possiblity of a difference in a child's and mother's perception of parenting and the use of a questionnaire to study parenting is discussed. The implication that the child's perception of dependent care received is overlooked by focusing only on the mother's perception warrants further consideration.