There's always another layer of complication that can make your current situation seem relatively easy.
If you're concerned about your ability to be a parent, you can rest assured -- parents of children with special needs have a whole different level of stress.
And if you're already the parent of a child with special needs, well, you could have one with special needs and one precocious little sibling that has a hard time dealing with the fact that their brother or sister consistently gets the lion's share of time and effort.
As many experts say, "siblings of children with special needs...
have special needs.
" How Does It Feel to Be a 'Special Needs Sibling'? There is already a plentitude of natural stress between siblings as they compete for their parents' attention.
However, when that attention is already largely claimed by a sibling who has special needs, that stress level goes to eleven.
Here are some feelings the siblings of special needs children are known to exhibit: • Concern for their sibling's well-being, • Jealousy over the amount of time/attention being given to the other child, • Fear that they will lose their sibling, • Anger at being passed over or inadvertently ignored, • Resentful of the time and energy they have to spend supporting their sibling, • Resentful of the lack of time and energy they have to go other fun things.
• Pressure to be the 'whole child' that their sibling can't be, and of course, • Guilty for their anger, resentment, and jealousy.
How Can I Tell if These Feelings are Becoming Too Strong? If your child's feelings become too powerful, they can easily disrupt their daily lives.
Here are the most common warning signs of potential emotional issues: • Sudden changes in appetite, • Sudden changes in sleep schedule, or ability to get to sleep or awaken, • Regular or constant physical aches -- headaches and stomachaches most commonly, • Driven perfectionist critiques of their own work, • An inability to concentrate on normal everyday tasks, • Separation anxiety, • Unexplained crying or fretting, • Hurting themselves (or talking about hurting themselves), and • Sibling abuse.
How Should I Respond If I See These Symptoms? Quite simply, you should immediately bring them up to your doctor, social worker, or other relevant expert.
The list of potential responses is long, complex, and varies immensely by circumstance, so attempting to go into it in any useful amount of detail here would be foolish.
The important thing is that you bring in someone who has access to the right resources as efficiently as possible.
What if I Never See These Symptoms? Then you're a very fortunate parent -- but you should still deliberately take a few moments that you might instinctively give to your special needs child and consciously give them to their sibling instead.
It's useless to try to 'balance' the two kids -- but you can and should 'reward' the healthy sibling with the one thing they want most of all...
your time and attention.
If you're concerned about your ability to be a parent, you can rest assured -- parents of children with special needs have a whole different level of stress.
And if you're already the parent of a child with special needs, well, you could have one with special needs and one precocious little sibling that has a hard time dealing with the fact that their brother or sister consistently gets the lion's share of time and effort.
As many experts say, "siblings of children with special needs...
have special needs.
" How Does It Feel to Be a 'Special Needs Sibling'? There is already a plentitude of natural stress between siblings as they compete for their parents' attention.
However, when that attention is already largely claimed by a sibling who has special needs, that stress level goes to eleven.
Here are some feelings the siblings of special needs children are known to exhibit: • Concern for their sibling's well-being, • Jealousy over the amount of time/attention being given to the other child, • Fear that they will lose their sibling, • Anger at being passed over or inadvertently ignored, • Resentful of the time and energy they have to spend supporting their sibling, • Resentful of the lack of time and energy they have to go other fun things.
• Pressure to be the 'whole child' that their sibling can't be, and of course, • Guilty for their anger, resentment, and jealousy.
How Can I Tell if These Feelings are Becoming Too Strong? If your child's feelings become too powerful, they can easily disrupt their daily lives.
Here are the most common warning signs of potential emotional issues: • Sudden changes in appetite, • Sudden changes in sleep schedule, or ability to get to sleep or awaken, • Regular or constant physical aches -- headaches and stomachaches most commonly, • Driven perfectionist critiques of their own work, • An inability to concentrate on normal everyday tasks, • Separation anxiety, • Unexplained crying or fretting, • Hurting themselves (or talking about hurting themselves), and • Sibling abuse.
How Should I Respond If I See These Symptoms? Quite simply, you should immediately bring them up to your doctor, social worker, or other relevant expert.
The list of potential responses is long, complex, and varies immensely by circumstance, so attempting to go into it in any useful amount of detail here would be foolish.
The important thing is that you bring in someone who has access to the right resources as efficiently as possible.
What if I Never See These Symptoms? Then you're a very fortunate parent -- but you should still deliberately take a few moments that you might instinctively give to your special needs child and consciously give them to their sibling instead.
It's useless to try to 'balance' the two kids -- but you can and should 'reward' the healthy sibling with the one thing they want most of all...
your time and attention.
Source...