I sat down with my 14 year-old daughter, Haven, to talk about her experience as Freya’s older sister! We shared quite a few laughs and I certainly learned some things – like how a person can totally internalize an experience, over think it and process it and chide themselves for their actions, when the other person involved may not remember any of it.
We talk about her memories from the beginning, the most challenging aspects of the syndrome, if has ever felt embarrassed, and why she feels protective and how that manifests.
I asked Haven to end our conversation with some words of insight, wisdom or advice for siblings of children with special needs. This was a delightful conversation with my daughter, with some surprising responses. I hope this talk inspires and encourages other parents to have these discussions with their children, if they aren’t already. I was enlightened.