Siblings and parents are not created equal and they shouldn't be.  Parents will always be parents.  Siblings will always be siblings BUT sometimes siblings become guardians and that change can be a tough transitions.  

We want the best for our siblings, and sometimes it might not match what our parents want and THAT'S OKAY.  Have your own plan even it's different from your parents, because then at least you have a plan!

Check out this conversation to hear Cheryl's story and encouragement.

In this episode we talk about:

• About Cheryl’s family and brother with autism

• Cheryl’s brother’s diagnosis

• Cheryl’s highlight reel of teenager through to where she is now

• Learning about SibShops and and creating her own

• Sibling Leadership Network Conference

• Filling spaces and transitions as siblings

• Cheryl’s blog (check it out here: https://specialsib.com/)

• Transition between Cheryl’s dad’s health and guardianship of her brother

• Seeing things as worse than they are

• There are other sibs and other sib support groups out there (here’s some info about SibNet: https://siblingsupport.org/connect/sibnet/)

• Prepaid debit cards for our siblings to live their lives but we can still be in the loop (here’s the one Cheryl mentioned: https://www.truelinkfinancial.com/)

• Validation of feelings and how Cheryl runs her practice

• Charlene vs Cheryl’s responses to having feelings that aren’t happy

• Spiraling is real!

• Cheryl and empathy

• Cheryl encouragement to fellow siblings

Check out the blog and contact Charlene here: https://thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/

Music by:

• AlexGrohl from Pixabay

• QubeSounds from Pixabay