Being the Other One: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister Who Has Special NeedsWhen there's a disabled child in the family, how are normally developing siblings affected? According to Kate Strohm, a counselor and health educator, siblings of the disabled face particular emotional challenges that are often overlooked. Able siblings commonly struggle with feelings of isolation, grief, anger, and anxiety—and these and other emotional issues can have lifelong effects. Being the Other One is based on the author's own experience (as a sibling of a sister with cerebral palsy) and on extensive interviews she conducted with siblings of all ages. In clear and compassionate terms, Strohm explores the often secret feelings of siblings and offers valuable strategies for coping with the challenges they face. Being the Other One reveals the difficulties faced by siblings at all stages of life, from early childhood through adulthood, when siblings must often assume responsibility for the care of their disabled brothers and sisters. Though the book looks honestly at the many challenges that siblings face, it is full of encouragement and practical strategies. Strohm emphasizes that when siblings are able to clearly identify and openly express their feelings and concerns—and when parents and health professionals offer the needed support—siblings can thrive. This book includes writing exercises for personal exploration and a substantial resources section listing helpful books, organizations, and websites. |
Contents
A Shared Childhood | 3 |
Coming Unstuck and Putting Back the Pieces | 8 |
Other Sibling Stories | 17 |
A Lone Journey | 19 |
Getting a Fair Chance | 32 |
Feelings with Nowhere to Go | 47 |
Ongoing Grief | 66 |
Responsibility and Caregiving | 81 |
Other editions - View all
Being the Other One: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister Who Has Special Needs Kate Strohm No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
ability able accept acknowledge activities adult allow anger attention aware become behavior brother or sister caring child with special childhood concerns cope daughter deal develop difficult disability discussion early effects emotional Encourage especially experience express father fear feel felt find first friends future gain give given grief grow guilt happening important involved issues lead lives look loss mean mother move never normal older opportunity organizations pain parents particular person play positive problems professionals questions range reactions realize recognize relationship remember responsibility role sadness seems sense service providers share siblings similar situation skills social someone sometimes special needs stages started stress struggle talk tell therapy things thought tion understand whole worry young younger