Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton Special Needs Sibling.... This is an actual thing. I knew there had to be others but I had no idea where or how to find them. I was actually going to start my own type of support group.… Continue reading The Journey Begins
Traveling alone in Thailand, I noticed something uncomfortable. The guides carried things.They navigated.They made sure I crossed busy streets safely.Hotel staff walked me out at night.They checked transportation.They made sure I arrived back safely. And my first instinct? “I’ve got it.” Not because I didn’t appreciate them.But because receiving help felt… foreign. As siblings —… Continue reading Accepting Help
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com People often ask what connects my work in occupational therapy, yoga therapy, chronic illness, disability, and sibling support. The answer is simple: real life doesn’t live in silos. Regulation doesn’t stop at the nervous system.Identity doesn’t stop at diagnosis.And sibling experiences don’t end in childhood. Over time, I realized I… Continue reading Everything Is Connected—and That’s Why I’m Writing More
Sibling relationships are complicated—even more so when disability, chronic illness, or mental health is part of the family story. Many adult siblings grow up learning how to “be fine,” stay quiet, or take on roles without ever being asked how they’re actually doing. The problem? Silence doesn’t mean everything is okay.It usually means the conversation… Continue reading Starting the Sibling Conversation: Because Silence Isn’t Neutral
Photo by Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.com Growing up as the sibling of a child with disabilities shapes identity in ways that are both powerful and complex. Many siblings develop strengths earlier than their peers—empathy, maturity, flexibility, and an ability to read a room quickly. These traits often become defining parts of who they are as… Continue reading Impact on Identity and Personal Growth
Photo by Guduru Ajay bhargav on Pexels.com For many siblings of children with disabilities, stress doesn’t always look like stress.They are the helpers, the flexible ones, the “easy” kids. And because they see their parents juggling so much, siblings often learn to mask their own needs — even from themselves. As we settle into a… Continue reading How to Spot Sibling Stress (Even When They Say “I’m Fine”)
