On Writing

One of the most plaguing consequences of sibling estrangement is the thought pattern of rumination: rehashing the same thoughts, over and over, even when those thoughts breed sadness or negativity. Many rejected siblings – and even some who chose to terminate the relationship -- find themselves constantly mulling over, “What did I do? What was my role in the cutoff? Can I fix this?” Here are a few ways to ...

For those who have seen the play, here is the REAL Countess's tea set! Today is the last day to see the new play, MOTHERLAND. It is streaming today, May 26, at 11:30, 2:00 and 7:30 CST. For tickets, go to: https://cwb42.booktix.com

  The five stages of grief for those estranged from a sibling are different from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief for a death. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202205/the-five-stages-grief-estranged-sibling

  Chicago Writers’ Bloc celebrates 30th Anniversary with Benefit and 2022 New Play Festival CHICAGO - Chicago Writers’ Bloc announced that it will celebrate its 30th Anniversary with a benefit and staged readings of 10 new works presented as part of its 2022 New Plays Festival, running May 23 to June 14 at the Raven Theater, 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. The festival will launch with a ...

https://www.thestar.com/life/relationships/advice/2022/05/09/heres-what-an-author-learned-about-undoing-years-of-sibling-estrangement-ask-ellie.html  

When adult children have nothing to do with each other, mothers (and fathers) don’t have the opportunity to gather with the entire family on holidays like Mother's Day. Instead, they have to choose whose house they will visit, and that often insults one child or another.     https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202205/mothers-estranged-siblings-may-suffer-mother-s-day

Certain moments are especially vulnerable for the sibling relationship, as brothers and sisters must renegotiate how they interact with one another over the course of a lifetime. In fact, estrangement often occurs when a sibling’s life circumstances change and he or she must redefine his or her role in the family. Linktopsychologytoday.com blog post: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202204/five-life-stages-when-siblings-are-risk-estrangement

I lived it, and now I am re-living it on the "stage". You can, too! :) Actors Diane Dorsey and Suzy Brack (below) are Edith and Fern in the play. Tickets are now available for the Zoom production of Motherland. https://cwb42.booktix.com Diane Dorsey is cast as Edith (my mother) and Suzy Brack will play me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRpsCeRvRCc&t=1s In this special video, we discuss Fern Schumer Chapman's book, Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation, one year after its publication. Here, Fern shares her own heartbreak and devastation during the decades-long estrangement with her only brother. She talks about why she decided to write the book, and the challenges of finding resources for the under-investigated topic of sibling estrangement. The book was released during ...

National Siblings Day is April 10—just around the corner. For sisters and brothers who enjoy good relationships, it’s a welcome cue to appreciate those loving bonds. But for the estranged, National Sibling Day is no cause for celebration.     https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202204/mark-national-siblings-day-making-peace-estrangement