Actually, the child with a problem usually requires more than his equal share of parental time and attention. Transportation to therapists and tutors, help with homework and soothing hurt feelings after school represent an investment of time, money and energy for parents. Some I have known focused so much attention to their LD child that there was little left over for their other children. Only when they began to fail in school or became depressed did their parents realize the extent of their neglect. Handling Responsibility Responsibility is a second issue affecting many siblings of children with learning disabilities.
Parents tend to expect more from the child without problems.
Good manners, appropriate social behavior and caretaking responsibilities may be taken for granted. Because they seem more capable, parents may rely on them to make life easier at home. At 12, Barbara became a miniature parent to her nine year-old brother. She took him with her when she went to play with friends and scolded him when he stayed up too late or didn't do his homework. But eventually she resented the responsibility and so did her brother who already had two parents, enough for any child.