What’s sibhood?
Sibhood is the word I use to describe the experience of growing up as a sib. For me, sibhood is lifelong – it’s an experience from childhood, into adulthood and older adulthood.
Being a sib has shaped who I am, the experiences I’ve had and the lens through which I see the world.
Why are you writing about sibhood?
Sibhood is a shared experience. I know that I’m not alone in the thoughts and feelings that I’ve had as I’ve grown up with my learning disabled brother. I know that now; but I didn’t know that when I was younger, because sibhood isn’t widely talked about. Writing about it brings it into the spotlight and helps other sibs know that they’re not alone.
“I didn’t know anybody else who had an autistic brother or sister, neither did I talk about Lionel much with [my sister] Liz […] It never crossed my mind that there were other children out there who had autistic siblings, other children who felt much as I did” – Looking After: A Portrait of My Autistic Brother by Caroline Elton
Shouldn’t you focus on writing about your disabled brother instead?
No. There are lots of blogs already writing brilliantly about disability. There are fewer blogs focused on the sibling experience, and this is something I am much better placed to write because of my personal and professional experiences.