January-March 2022 – Volume 20, Issue 1 contains:
Calendar includes Sibshops and Sib Camps for summer 2021
Watch for more events announced throughout 2021!
Click to download your newest issue of SibNewsInside:
Want a full-color, printed copy sent to you or a friend? Contact us
While in-person WisconSibs events are suspended for a few weeks, the Sibs Are My Peeps Photo Challenge is going strong! Kids, adults, grandparents…ANYBODY and EVERY BODY…can join in and have fun.
HOW TO ENTER
1. Using Peeps® and a box (not to exceed 24” deep X 24” tall) create a scene that depicts “Take a Peep Around the World”, the theme of the 2020 WisconSibsSibs Are My Peeps®Photo Challenge. Take your Peeps® on a magical, marshmallowy-sweet adventure to anywhere in the world. Melt ‘em, mold ‘em, dress ‘em up. Be creative. Find ideas at: https://wisconsibs.org/what-we-offer/sibs-are-my-peeps/
NEW OPTION! Don’t have Peeps® or a box in the house and can’t get out to get some? No problem. Make a “flat Peep” display using paper, some crayons, and of course your imagination. Pinterest is a good place to find Peeps coloring pages or download this one. Peeps coloring page
2. Email no more than two photos of your scene to: siblingsaremypeeps@wpstaging.simple.biz Photos must be .jpg, .jpeg or .png. Your email must also include:
–Names, ages and hometown/state of all who helped create the scene.
–Phone number and e-mail address (not for publication).
–Title of your scene. (Extra points for cleverness of course.)
–2-4 sentences about your creation or its significance.
All submissions will be reviewed and five winners will be announced. Winners will be awarded “Sibs are my Peeps” t-shirts.
“In these confusing times, its even more important to find ways to use our imaginations as an escape or respite. We hope this challenge will provide some fun for siblings and many others. We also hope to raise awareness of the many roles siblings play in our lives as we approach National Siblings Day on April 10. We especially acknowledge the often-overlooked critical roles that siblings play when one may have a disability. ” says Harriet Redman, Executive Director of WisconSibs.
The Sibs are my Peeps®” Contest welcomes friends, families, or co-workers, or any other individual or group, regardless of age or ability. No purchase is necessary to enter the contest.
QUESTION?
Do I need to be a sibling? Nope. Anyone can enter. Any age. Any ability. Any person. Any group, business, or school. From anywhere.
Do I need to be artistic? Nope. Just be willing to have fun with it. The theme this year is “Take a Peep Around the World”.
Does it cost anything? Nope. Only cost is purchasing Peeps which are about $1.30 a package.
May I post my creation on social media? You sure can! Just tag it with #sibsaremypeeps and #wisconsibs To officially enter the challenge, please email your 2 photos to siblingsaremypeeps@wpstaging.simple.biz
Additional tags could include #covid-19nomatchformypeeps #takeapeeparoundtheworld
How do I enter?
Go to www.wisconsibs.org/what-we-offer/sibs-are-my-peeps to get details and see examples.
#covid-19nomatchformypeeps #sibsaremypeeps #wisconsibs #takeapeeparoundtheworld
This issue is filled with stories and information about:
To view or print, click Dec 2019-Jan 2020 SibNews
Check out what’s happening in Dec and January and Beyond!
More than 65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one. Family caregivers are the foundation of long-term care nationwide, exceeding Medicaid long-term care spending in all states. National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare. March 2009
While most siblings don’t think of themselves as caregivers for their sisters and brothers with disabilities, it is one of the many roles they play, whether they are children or adults. Sisters especially play a huge role throughout their lives in providing care, companionship, and other needs of their siblings with disabilities, sometimes even from long distance.
“My sister doesn’t live with me but we have a routine that every night I call her and read her a story,” explained Barb Wentzel in a recent Sibling Panel discussion.
Siblings also recognize and value the need for paid caregivers to provide respite for their parents who may be doing the bulk of the caregiving. “It is important that parents receive respite care so they are able to pursue things that are important to them and spend time with their other children.” stated Christiana Yablonowski in her recent Sibling’s Choice nomination to honor Todd Steven & Associates for providing care and community support for her brother. READ MORE ABOUT SIBLING’S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS
WisconSibs, Inc. is a member of the Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance (WFACSA) dedicated to the needs of caregivers and advocating for them.
Did you know? (facts identified in a recent survey of WI family caregivers conducted by WFACSA)
Learn more at http://wisconsincaregiver.org/alliance
Earlier this year WI Governor Tony Evers has set up a special Caregiving Task Force to identify ways WI caregivers can be better supported. See his recent proclamation.
Wisconsin Family Caregivers!
We celebrate you. We thank you, especially the often overlooked life-long role siblings
play in the care and nurturing of their siblings with disabilities.
SibNews Aug-Oct 2019
Click to view or download
This week Harriet had the pleasure of talking with Jim Masters, host of CUTV News, during a podcast for this international news program. 
To listen, go to
(Harriet’s words start at about 5:00)
APPLETON, WI—If you take a close look at Harriet Redman you will realize she is a woman of incredible wisdom and strength. This is first and foremost because she raised a son born in 1992 with a rare chromosomal abnormality that affected Phillip’s ability to walk, speak, and meet many developmental milestones. Harriet and her family, which included older sibling Christiana, were determined that Phillip be an involved and included member of the family and one day, while playing their special version of soccer, Christiana vocalized a very adult thought for a seven year old: “What will happen one day when you and Daddy die?”
It’s a question many siblings of special needs kids will have, but fear to express, and it led to the founding of the non-profit organization WisconSibs (which happened officially in 1998.) Since then, this noteworthy organization has continued to grow, launch or partner in programs, and provide the circle of support that is so vital to the siblings of children diagnosed with conditions. When a child has a mental, medical, genetic or developmental diagnosis, it disrupts the family–their time, budgets, attention, energy, sleep, careers, etc. Siblings, although they love to help, can experience guilt or short-term resentment. With the support of an organization like WisconSibs, which provides help across Wisconsin, siblings learn to develop resiliency, natural leadership skills, and coping strategies. Most importantly, Harriet says, they realize they are not the only ones in this crazy position, and that’s utterly empowering.
WisconSibs provides many different programs that help children ages 6 to 12 to feel supported, talk about their roles, face doubts, and learn what to expect as both siblings grow into adults. One of those programs is Sibshop, an award-winning workshop that was first launched by Don Meyer in Seattle, Washington. They also run summer camp programs, both day and sleepover, where siblings discuss concerns and joys while having fun, engaging in recreation, and getting the respite time that is important to everyone in the family. WisconSibs also engages families in activities that help create awareness or raise funds such as the Sibs are My Peeps contest which recreates family engagement using the marshmallow candies. Recently, they began to test a new program geared to siblings from ages 3 to 5, so they can learn to understand and express what happens in their families.
In her radio show, Harriet is going to talk about these various programs, how and why her organization was founded, and home in on the crucial role that siblings have when someone in the family has an illness or disability. She will also stress how important it is for society and service providers to embrace the needs of the sibling (and not just the client or parents ) We salute her for her brave efforts and look forward to learning all she has to share–including how motivated people can donate to this wonderful non-profit!