Thanks Christi and Valerie for your kind comments on the links on siblings. I hope things are going better for you Christi. How was your High School Musical date?
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<br />I wanted to let you know that you inspired me to have some experts talk about this issue with us (via teleconference). I hope you can join us.
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<br />It's next Tuesday eve - Nov 18- at 6:00 to 6:30pm Pacific Time (9-9:30 EST) for a free teleconference to discuss sibling issues for kids with CF and other special healthcare needs.
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<br />I'll be talking with Foster Cline MD (child psychiatrist and co-founder of Love and Logic) and Don Meyers of SibShops about the issues that siblings of a child with special healthcare needs face and what we parents can do to support them to cope well.
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<br />Don has a wonderful program specifically for siblings and has worked with families for years. He will give us many good ideas.
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<br />Here's the link to sign up for the free teleconference and to read the article we'll discuss: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.parentingchildrenwithhealthissues.citymax.com/BlogTalkArticle.html">http://www.parentingchildrenwi...m/BlogTalkArticle.html</a>
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<br />Just listen in or feel free to ask a question during the Q&A at the end.
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<br />And please send me your questions even if you can't join us. I'll send you the recording. It really helps us to have some questions ahead of time. You can either post them here or send me a private email.
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<br />I look forward to talking with you!
<br />Hugs,
<br />Lisa
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<br />PS: Here's an excerpt from Don's article which is posted on our website at www.ParentingChildrenWithHealthIssues.com:
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<br /><b>What Siblings Would Like Parents and Service Providers to Know</b>
<br />In the United States, there are over six million people who have special health, developmental, and mental health concerns. Most of these people have typically-developing brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters are too important to ignore, if for only these reasons:
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<br />. These brothers and sisters will be in the lives of family members with special needs longer than anyone. Brothers and sisters will be there after parents are gone and special education services are a distant memory. If they are provided with support and information, they can help their sibs live dignified lives from childhood to their senior years.
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<br />. Throughout their lives, brothers and sisters share many of the concerns that parents of children with special needs experience, including isolation, a need for information, guilt, concerns about the future, and caregiving demands. Brothers and sisters also face issues that are uniquely theirs including resentment, peer issues, embarrassment, and pressure to achieve.
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<br />Despite the important and life-long roles they will play in the lives of their siblings who have special needs, even the most family-friendly agencies often overlook brothers and sisters.
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<br />© The Sibling Support Project. All rights reserved.
