Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s Story episode, #269. These are true stories from a moment in the life of someone connected to the caregiving experience. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guest that goes deeper into their experience.
Today, Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with Sheena Brevig, who shares her experience growing up with a disabled brother and what it has meant to navigate life as a sibling, or "sib."
For many sibs, their family experience is simply what they've always known. But as they grow older, they may begin to recognize how their sibling's disability has shaped their identity, relationships, responsibilities, and understanding of themselves.
Sheena reflects on the cultural expectations surrounding family and caregiving, the complicated emotions that can come with being a sib, and the importance of having language to describe experiences that often go unspoken.
Together, they explore how therapy, self-reflection, and storytelling can help siblings better understand their experiences. Sheena also discusses the power of representation in films like Wonder and how seeing sibling experiences reflected in stories can offer validation and connection.
Jessica, Susanna, and Sheena also discuss what caregiving moms can do to support all of their children, including making space for difficult emotions, encouraging independence, and allowing siblings to develop identities beyond their roles within the family.
Perhaps most importantly, Sheena reminds us that siblings don't have to feel grateful or positive about every part of their experience. They can love their brother or sister deeply while also acknowledging that some parts of growing up with disability in the family are difficult.
For the sibs listening, your feelings are valid, your story matters, and you are not alone. And for the caregiving moms raising multiple children, this conversation offers an opportunity to better understand and support the sibling experience.
We see you, and we love you!
We are incredibly grateful to Rise Educational Advocacy for sponsoring Season 11 of Brave Together Podcast and for supporting our mission to strengthen and encourage caregiving moms. Find more information about Rise here.
Follow Sheena Brevig on social media here.
Follow Sib as a Human here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
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Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
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Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
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