When My Brother or Sister Has Special Needs: What About Me?: A Guide to Understanding My Experiences, Setting Boundaries and Finding My Place

By Sonia Doucet

When your brother or sister has special needs, it can feel like family life revolves around what they need. But where does that leave you?

You can love your sibling and still feel frustrated, jealous, worried or overwhelmed. You can want to help and also need time for your friends, your interests and yourself.

Created for teens ages 13-17, this illustrated guide offers space to explore your experiences, understand your feelings and put your needs into words.

Through relatable explanations, reflection questions and space to write or draw, you can explore:

- Your identity beyond being someone's brother or sister.
- Mixed emotions, guilt and feeling overlooked.
- Privacy, personal space and the right to say no.
- Helping without taking on a parent's responsibilities.
- Friendships, dating and family life.
- Staying safe and reaching out to a trusted adult.
- Your own plans for the future.
- Building a sibling relationship that respects both of you.

There are no perfect answers and no pressure to complete every page. Start with what matters to you, take breaks and return whenever you want.

Written by Sonia Doucet, author and foster parent, this guide encourages honest reflection and conversations that make room for everyone's needs.

You can love your family without forgetting yourself.
Your feelings, your boundaries and your future matter, too.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HJWDMXND
• ISBN13: 9798172773235
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 44 Pages
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"