As the sibling of a sister who suffers from the worst form of epilepsy, I have to extend a huge “thank you” to NBC’s Parenthood for addressing one of our society’s unspoken issues in this week’s episode; the challenges that come with having a special needs sibling.
What this clip touches on is true, even if you’ve done a darn good job of navigating the difficulties that come with having this lot in life, it still can be really hard. Arduous even. My hope is that this clip will be a small catalyst towards the community at large acknowledging this.
Advertisement
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
They handled it with grace and insight. It is difficult, complex, and sometimes just plain sucks. I also appreciated the writers including the dad’s acknowledgement of Hattie’s role. I know it was healing for some people with siblings who have challenges to hear.
You’re right, it is extremely complex. You have to grapple with questions like, “am I supposed to be a sibling or a caretaker in this situation,” or, “is it fair for me to be upset when my sibling hurts me & the damage they’ve inflicted has nothing to do with them & everything to do with their illness?” (glad Parenthood addressed this one)