The Glass Child Fight Like a Mother

Welcome to the fight, like your mother podcast. I'm so glad that you are here.  I am sharing an episode today that I have been thinking about doing for a really long time.  And I haven't done it because I wanted a therapist. Slash expert who knows a lot about this to come on and talk about it because I haven't felt qualified to do so.  However lately it won't leave my brain. 
And I've asked several therapists who said they don't feel qualified to come on and talk about it. So if they don't feel qualified, then. 
  I can do my own research and figure this out. So I know that I need to record this. Now,  and it's interesting because I posted a  instagram posts about this very topic and that eight Han of responses about it. And people who've wanted to learn more and have never heard about this. Or who have heard about it, but didn't know much about it. 
So it is time now.  Perhaps if I find the right person,  , I will have another therapist and we'll do another episode on this particular topic, , to give some insights and things that I don't share.  But I do have some valuable experience. And personal.  Deeply personal things about this particular topic. 
And I feel like it may be really valuable for lots of families, including my own actually.  
So the topic I'm discussing today is about the siblings. Of kids with extra intense needs.  , This can happen with physical health challenges. Mental health challenges. Kids with autism. There's a myriad of reasons why.  , this. Particular thing can happen. It can actually even happen in like children of divorce. , and things like that. 
So this applies to lots of families out there.  , but let's, we're going to talk about it in regards to the sibling of.  
The sibling of somebody who has intense mental health challenges. That's what we're, our focus is going to be today. But these principles apply to so many.  So how does this in particular affect these kids?  How do they feel about it? , are they overlooked? Do they have a voice, et cetera?  And each of these questions are really valuable and important to think about as parents.  
But I also don't want this to overwhelm you or shut you down as you're listening.  And I don't want you to feel guilt or shame about this, that isn't the goal here.  I don't want to give you more. To put on, you're already over loaded, overwhelmed to do list. And I certainly don't want to give you more to worry about.  So in fact, I want you, as you go throughout listening to this episode, I want you to really, really be aware and notice your feelings that you're having. 
Notice what pops up in your brain and how your body feels.  And just notice those things.  Don't judge yourself. And if you're noticing some hard emotions coming up,  maybe take a break.  Do some breathing.  Take care of yourself. Nurture yourself. And then turn it on again.  Don't stop listening because you're feeling negative emotions because sometimes we need to sit in the discomfort.  
There's a sign there.  I'm going to bed. Okay. Good night.  
In fact, during this episode, I want you to notice your feelings about what's coming up.  Notice what pops up in your brain, how your body's feeling.  And just notice, just be aware and don't judge yourself. If you're feeling a lot of discomfort.  
That actually is okay. And if you need to take a break for a few minutes, Go do some breathing. Go nurture yourself.  Go do that, but come back because discomfort doesn't mean we just stop. We can sit and deal with those uncomfortable feelings.  And we can continue on.  So the objective of my episode. Today is to bring voices and awareness to these kids. 
Our kids.  Who matter?  And their feelings and their traa. And their voices matter. And I know you believe that because you are an awesome parent. You really are amazing. And you're overwhelmed and you're overworked and you don't have enough support.  
 
But these kids deserve to be hea