Remember the Siblings

Last week, USA Today profiled Christine Frisbee’s important book, Day by Day. The book was inspired by her family’s journey through the death of a chronically ill teenage son and how the fight against his leukemia affected the other children in the family.

The book compiles diary entries from the siblings of kids with serious illnesses. According to experts, most kids recognize their parents’ need to prioritize, but do harbor some unvoiced resentment about the attention given to the ill child. If—god forbid—you’re dealing with a seriously ill, or even obese, child who requires more energy and attention than your other kids, this book highlights the importance of remembering to take occasional opportunities to focus on the rest of the family.