I Can Be Myself For Once

In today's episode, we talk with Samantha about a topic that affects so many Glass Children: parentification. Parentification happens when a child ends up acting like the parent—taking on adult responsibilities they shouldn't have to handle. This might mean doing household chores, managing bills, or providing emotional support like mediating family fights or being a parent's therapist. It usually happens when families are under a lot of stress, and it can really mess with a kid's mental health, both now and down the road. Sam talks to us about what it looked like in her family; how it disrupted her childhood and led to deep anxiety in her adulthood. And the moments in her life that as helped her begin the process of healing. 

Samantha wrote a book about her experience, Finding Life's Blessings: A Journey of Hardship, Healing and Hope. Signed copies are available on her website www.findinglifesblessings.com or on Amazon. Info about Kennedy Krieger Institute https://www.kennedykrieger.org/