About this episode

This episode discusses the experiences of neurotypical siblings in neurodivergent families, highlighting the concept of the 'glass child' and offering insights on how to support them.

There's a kid in your house who never asks for anything, who seems fine when everything is falling apart, who's learned to take up less space so there's room for their sibling's bigger needs. There’s a name for what they're experiencing, glass child. In this episode, I'm talking about the neurotypical sibling experience, something that doesn't get nearly enough airtime in our conversations about neurodivergent families. I share a moment from my own family, a meltdown in the middle of Target, one kid on the floor and one kid pacing, and only one of me to go around. It taught me just how much our neurotypical kids are absorbing and hiding. I explain where the term glass child comes from, why these siblings become invisible in the family system even though they're deeply loved, and what's actually happening in their nervous systems when they learn that their big feelings don't get a response. I also share what unlocked something for me personally, an episode of Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin, and a single line from it that I haven't stopped thinking about: the weather changed, but you haven't taken off the sweater. Then we get into what actually helps. Naming what you see…

More episodes of Beautifully Complex

• 365: Autistic Burnout & Self-Care, with Dr. Megan Anna Neff · July 8, 2026 · 35 min
• 364: PDA Through a Problem-Solving Lens: Moving from Power Struggles to Partnership, with Stacey Curnow, LCMHC · June 24, 2026 · 37 min
• 363: Raising Problem-Solvers: Lessons from the Co-Creator of Blue's Clues & Daniel Tiger, with Angela Santomero · June 17, 2026 · 28 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Beautifully Complex podcast page.