A round-up of special needs blog posts

You will not make it through this month’s posts without crying, so you may want to pull up a chair and grab some tissues first. I think this is quite possibly the most moving round-up I have ever had the pleasure to put together.

This month Mencap featured the most beautifully crafted post I have read in quite a while. If I read a post aloud to my husband that is the benchmark, and I only do that about 3 times a year. This post, One Day, had tears in both our eyes. It is written by James Robinson, the adult younger brother of a woman who has a learning disability. The way he beautifully describes the picture of sibling love, responsibility and protection is perfect. There is a twist in the tale too. A bitter sweet must-read post.

That got me thinking about the topic for this month’s round-up. So off I went searching for a family of sibling posts.

When Natalia was born with Down’s Syndrome, I recall one of my greatest concerns in those early foggy moments of shock was the impact her arrival would have on her big sister Mia who was 2 at the time. I know a lot of parents express the same worries, and are conscious of the extra time and attention a child with a disability needs.
My overriding feeling is that although Natty has taken a lot of worry and time, Mia has developed into a more caring and thoughtful child because of her sister. Children with additional needs teach the whole family acceptance, a different pace, and the importance of viewing life from another angle.
So, here is the collection of posts written by parents and siblings themselves that will do much to allay your fears.

Pinkoddy outlines the fears and worries and guilt that most parents feel in Sibling Sacrifices. We are all constantly assessing how best to divide our time, financial and emotional resources as well as having to make longer term decision on such matters as schooling. Very rarely does one school fit all.

I was honoured to be asked to be one of the judges in the SWAN Blog Awards in this, their first year. The voting ended last month and the winner of the Most Powerful Post was A Letter to my Daughter by TheaandNatesMum in which she writes to her elder daughter praising, thanking, explaining. For how wonderfully she has travelled the journey since her brother was born. He has severe and complex needs. I do not mind admitting that this post made me cry as I could see so much of what Mia has gone through in this.

Not Alone, a group of parents who blog together, explore the Special Relationship special needs siblings can have in a Christian household. “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” Psalm 133:1

Breathtaking blog Perfectly Imperfecta is written by Sandy, a teen with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). Here, in A Different Perspective #2 her elder brother talks of how she has shaped his life. What an incredible family. What an incredible blog.

No round-up about siblings would be complete without including the very talented young lady Agi of Agnieszka Productions whose sister ‘happens to have DS’. She makes incredible, award-winning films which you will love.

Sara, the founder of charity Livvy’s Smile and author of blog Walking with Angels recently organized a fun day at SNAPS special needs playground where children with disabilities could come together with their siblings and make memories to last forever. Sara produced a lovely video of the day for you to watch as well, in Memory Making.

When you have watched that I want you to read the post about how one of Sara’s daughter’s is dealing with the loss of her sister and how she felt at the end of the fun day, overwrought by the fear she has that others will forget her treasured sibling. Take time for Simply Unforgettable.

I want to leave you with a post that my dear younger brother, a sensitive and unassuming man, wrote for my blog Downs Side Up. In it he describes the feelings he had when Natty was born, how he hid many of them to support me and help carry the family forward. A totally different kind of Special Needs Sibling Blog: Love From Uncle Carl.

Please do add your own sibling posts to the linky at the bottom. We love hearing your comments too. I hope you enjoy the round up this month. Hayley x

For support for siblings of any age, go to SIBS

About Hayley Goleniowska

A former language teacher and voice-over artist, Hayley is now the Mum of two gorgeous girls, the youngest of whom, Natty, has Down’s Syndrome. She blogs, speaks and writes articles on the subject for all who will read or listen. Through Downs Side Up she aims to both offer support and encouragement to new families with a diagnosis, and gently change perceptions of Down’s Syndrome from within hearts through beautiful words and photos. Her daughter Natty is a clothing model and an amazing ambassador for children with disabilities everywhere. She has appeared in The Sun, Mail Online, Bella Magazine and on ITV Daybreak. You can find Hayley on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.