When One of Our Kids Takes Up All of Our Bandwidth

A note from Margaret: My family was visiting Kerrville, TX when the flood occurred. She Having seen the devastation to the Hill Country first hand, it is impossible to put into words the scope of the disaster. These losses are close to home for my family and I know they have touched so many of you as well. Please join us in donating to the relief efforts by using the following trusted link: https://cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4201

In this episode, Margaret and Amy tackle a commonplace parenting issue: when one child consumes the majority of your bandwidth—whether that's your time, your energy, or your attention.

Some bandwidth-hogging situations are temporary, some are more this-is-how-it-is. Some are for positive reasons, some distinctly less so. Whatever the cause, when one kid takes up all your parenting bandwidth, it's hard for the rest of the family not to be affected as well.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The many ways our bandwidth can feel inconsistently applied
• Strategies for recalibrating the family ecosystem
• Why awareness, honesty, and small course corrections matter

Whether you’re navigating chronic illness, disruptive behavior, or the demands of elite youth sports, this episode is here to help you name it, understand it, and—most importantly—not feel alone.

And don't forget to buy HAPPY TO HELP if you haven't yet!

Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:

• Leigh Anderson for Lifehacker: What to Do If Your Child's Behavior Is Ruining Your Relationship With Your Partner

• Antoinette Deavin, Pete Greasley, Clare Dixon for Pediatrics: Children’s Perspectives on Living With a Sibling With a Chronic Illness

• Dean E. Murphy for NYT: Watching Them Watching Me

• Lisa Rapaport for Reuters: Healthy kids with sick sibling may hide emotions

• Nicole Schwarz for imperfectfamilies.com: It’s not fair, and that’s ok. Supporting your children when a sibling is struggling.

• Andrew Sullivan for NYT: How Do You Raise a Prodigy?

• Parent Child Interaction Therapy (this is what Margaret talked about)

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