What happens to creators when they decide to dive into the dark and tell the hard stories about childhood trauma and mental health? In today’s episode, Alicia shares the deeply personal impact of creating this podcast and the ramifications it has had on her emotional well being, relationships, and mindset.

She reveals the surprising feedback she has received, both positive and controversial, and gives us a glimpse of what is still to come in upcoming episodes.

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast.

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children:

REMEMBER:

If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental-health professional. You do not have to do this alone.

Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast.

I’m Alicia Meneses Maples, and I see you.

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers.

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post Alicia: Real & Raw appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

In this episode, we do something different and very important. This conversation is for parents.

Three adult glass children come together in-studio to read and reflect on a list of do’s and don’ts for parents of children with special needs and disabilities. Their answers and reactions are not theories. These are lived experiences from adults who grew up alongside siblings with serious mental illness, cancer, intellectual disabilities.

This episode is not about blaming parents.

It is not about shaming families.

It is about helping parents understand long term impact of growing up in a high needs household and what can be done differently.

If you are a parent of a child with disabilities, a mom of a special needs child, or a caregiver navigating constant medical, behavioral, or emotional demands, this episode offers honest guidance from the people who lived it.

Many parents have never heard the term: glass children. Glass children are siblings who often appear capable, responsible, and fine while quietly carrying fear, responsibility, and emotional neglect. This episode introduces that concept gently and translates it into practical advice parents can use right now.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of sibling violence, safety concerns, emotional neglect, parentification, trauma, and long term caregiving fears. Please listen with care.

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast.

Ready to learn more about supporting all children in high needs families?

REMEMBER:

If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental-health professional. You do not have to do this alone.

Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast.

I’m Alicia Meneses Maples, and I see you.

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers.

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post What Every Parent of a Special Needs Child Needs to Hear appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

Our interview with Emily Wyler, a 30-something adult glass child from the United States marks a turning point in Season 1. Emily gets raw and real about the cost of being the “good one.”

At 4 years old her teachers turned against her instead of understanding the trauma or nearly losing her baby sister to multiple surgeries and how her parents punished her.

As a teen you’ll hear how she finally found a safe haven, only to have it ripped from her by her parents. 

You’ll hear how her childhood trauma followed her into adulthood: perfectionism, dating people who mirrored chaos, a crushing fear of becoming a parent and the lifelong grief of never having been asked, “Emily, how are you?”

A gentle trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of medical trauma, childhood emotional neglect, physical punishment, bullying, perfectionism, grief, complex family loyalty, and fear about lifelong caregiving responsibility. Please listen with care and seek support if needed.

This is Emily’s story—and it’s a mirror for every glass child who was expected to be grateful, responsible, and fine while silently falling apart.

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast.

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children:

REMEMBER:

If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental-health professional. You do not have to do this alone.

Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast.

I’m Alicia Meneses Maples, and I see you.

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers.

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post The Hidden Cost of Childhood Emotional Neglect with Emily Wyler appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

Part 2: In today’s episode, we welcome back Megan Rodriguez, MS, LPC, NCC — Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Path to Joy Counseling in Corpus Christi, Texas — to go one level deeper. In Part 1, Megan helped us understand emotional invalidation and how it can lead to Complex PTSD. In this episode, we talk about what happens next: how those early experiences shape the way we attach, love, trust, and set boundaries in adulthood.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I always pick people who don’t choose me back?” or “Why do I work so hard in relationships?” or “Why do I freak out when someone is mad at me?” — this conversation will make so much sense.

Megan explains attachment in simple language, then walks us through secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment styles — and how glass children often end up stuck in people-pleasing, over-functioning, and emotional hypervigilance because that’s what kept them safe growing up.

A gentle trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood emotional neglect, boundary violations, people-pleasing, and relational trauma. Please listen with care and seek support if needed.

This is for every adult glass child who learned to manage everyone else’s emotions to stay safe — and is now ready to learn how to choose themselves.

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast.

What You’ll Hear

Connect with Megan Rodriguez, MS, LPC, NCC

Connect & Engage

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children:

REMEMBER:

If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental-health professional. You do not have to do this alone.

Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast.

I’m Alicia Meneses Maples, and I see you.

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers.

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post Glass Child Relationships Explained: Attachment After Childhood Trauma — with Megan Rodriguez, MS, LPC, NCC appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

Part 1 – Today’s episode is all about the glass child’s mental health; understanding how and why the glass child experience is so deeply impactful. 

We sit down with Megan Rodriguez, MS, LPC, NCC, a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Path to Joy Counseling in Corpus Christi, Texas. Megan specializes in helping children, adults, and families heal from trauma and rediscover their sense of self-worth.

Together, in Part 1 of this 2-part interview, we explore the unseen impact of emotional invalidation and unpack what Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) really is—how it develops, how it manifests, and how it affects the relationships and identities of those who experienced chronic emotional neglect in childhood.

This episode lays the foundation for Part 2, where Megan returns to discuss attachment and how early relational wounds shape the way glass children connect in adulthood.

A gentle trigger warning: This conversation includes discussions of emotional neglect, invalidation, family trauma, and the long-term effects of chronic stress. Please listen with care and seek support if needed.

This is the beginning of understanding why so many adult glass children struggle with identity, trust, and belonging, and it’s the start of learning how to heal.

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast.

• What Complex PTSD really means—and why it isn’t officially recognized in the U.S. DSM

• The difference between PTSD and C-PTSD, and three key symptoms

• How repeated emotional invalidation cracks a child’s trust in their caregivers

• Why neglecting a child’s emotions can be just as damaging as overt abuse

• Two common maladaptive coping patterns glass children develop: “It’s all about me” vs “It’s not at all about me”

• How these childhood adaptations shape identity, empathy, and relationships in adulthood

• Why emotional expression—crying, naming, and processing feelings—is a vital part of healing

Megan Rodriguez, MS, LPC, NCC

 Path to Joy Counseling, Corpus Christi, TX

361-500-3465

 [email protected]

 Headway Profile

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children:

If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental-health professional. You do not have to do this alone.

Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast.

I’m Alicia Meneses Maples, and I see you.

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers.

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post How Emotional Invalidation Shapes Who We Become – with Megan Rodriguez, MS, LPC, NCC appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

Meet Abigail Williams, a 43-year-old woman who grew up as the younger sibling to a brother with Down syndrome. From a young age, Abigail learned to make herself small. To not be a problem. To take care of everyone around her (especially her brother). To be perfect. She learned to tamp down her emotions. But what her family didn’t see…what no one saw, was that beneath the surface of the “good little girl,” Abigail was navigating a silent crisis: trying to figure out who she was as a person and what her worth was in the world.

A gentle trigger warning: In this conversation, Abigail shares a challenging time in her life where she contemplated the value of her life.  This episode and podcast series contains discussions of childhood trauma, emotional invalidation, and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care and seek support if needed.

This is Abigail’s story of survival, transformation, and the profound moment when she recognized the same danger signs in her own 18-year-old daughter and refused to accept “I’m fine” as an answer.

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast.

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children: 

1. Subscribe to the I See Glass Children Podcast on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | or wherever you get your podcasts

2. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it and tell them, “You have to hear this.” 

3. Visit https://iseeglasschildren.com and subscribe to “Behind the Glass” for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and a special PDF with tips for helping glass children.

4. Spread the Word: Share this episode with your bestie, your therapist, your teachers, your minister, friends. Sharing is caring and hearing is healing.

REMEMBER:

If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental health professional. You do not have to do this alone. Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast. I’m Alicia Meneses Maples and I see you. 

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers. 

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post Breaking The Glass Child Cycle appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

In today’s episode, you are going to hear the young voice of a 20-year old twin named Mae. (NOTE: She requested anonymity. Her name and her voice have been changed to protect her privacy.)

Mae grew up in the Philippines and her story is one of emotional erosion—how her older sister’s illness and the way she was raised slowly chipped away at her sense of self, her safety, and her ability to cope. She was not only invisible to her family, but she started to become invisible to herself. Why?

A gentle trigger warning: In this conversation, Mae shares about the unnamed pain that led her to suicidal ideation and the beginning of her healing journey. 

This is Mae’s story. 

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast. (Content Note: This episode and podcast series contains discussions of childhood trauma, neglect, self-harm and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care and seek support if needed)

• The pain of growing up without the ability to play outside or celebrate scholastic accomplishments

• How Mae’s older sister told her she was suicidal when Mae was 9

• Mae’s determination to help her sister feel like she was not a burden

• The surprising real story behind why Mae sought help

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children: 

1. Subscribe to the I See Glass Children Podcast on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | or wherever you get your podcasts

2. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it and tell them, “You have to hear this.” 

3. Visit https://iseeglasschildren.com and subscribe to “Behind the Glass” for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and a special PDF with tips for helping glass children Spread the Word Share this episode with your bestie, your therapist, your teachers, your minister, friends. Sharing is caring and hearing is healing.

REMEMBER:

If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental health professional. You do not have to do this alone. Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast. I’m Alicia Meneses Maples and I see you. 

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers. 

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post Feeling Seen: Mae’s Journey From Invisible to Validated appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

In today’s episode, we meet someone who’s become a quiet force in the movement to recognize and support glass children. She goes by the name Nope—not her real name, but the one she uses online to protect her privacy. And under that name, she created something remarkable. Nope is an adult glass child—and she’s the founder of the Glass Children SubReddit, the largest online community in the world dedicated to the glass child experience.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GlassChildren

Nope grew up in Belgium, is highly educated, and by all outward appearances, she’s successful. But behind that success is a childhood marked by silence, emotional invisibility, and trauma.

A gentle trigger warning: In this conversation, Nope shares deeply personal truths—about the pain that led her to self-harm, her battle with Complex PTSD, and the long road she’s walked toward healing. But you’ll also hear about the strength and compassion that led her to build a safe space for others who grew up unseen.

This is her story. And this is the legacy she’s building—one post, one comment, one glass child at a time.

Welcome to the I See Glass Children podcast. (Content Note: This episode and podcast series contains discussions of childhood trauma, neglect, self-harm,, suicidal ideation, and family violence. Please listen with care and seek support if needed)

• The pain of growing up with a sister who didn’t sleep and constantly screamed, hidden behind a calm, matter of fact voice

• Nope’s first crisis with dissociation

• What led Nope to seek professional help

• The things have helped Nope cope with childhood trauma and neglect

• Why Nope decided to create a the Glass Children SubReddit

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children:

1. Subscribe to the I See Glass Children Podcast on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | or wherever you get your podcasts

2. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it and tell them, “You have to hear this.”

3. Visit https://iseeglasschildren.com and subscribe to “Behind the Glass” for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and a special PDF with tips for helping glass children Spread the Word Share this episode with your bestie, your therapist, your teachers, your minister, friends. Sharing is caring and hearing is healing.

REMEMBER: If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental health professional. You do not have to do this alone. Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast. I’m Alicia Meneses Maples and I see you.

Produced by: Brewing.Media

Dedicated to: My Daddy. I love you with all my heart forevers.

Special thanks to: BlueHair

The post The Quiet Force: ‘Nope’ and the World’s Largest Online Glass Child Community appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

“They call us glass children. We look fine on the outside. We perform, we excel, we behave. We look like we have no problems, but inside we’re cracking. We’re carrying trauma that no one ever thought to measure.” – Alicia Meneses Maples, Glass Child Advocate & Host

Welcome to the I See Glass Children Podcast, where we illuminate the invisible siblings who grew up in high-needs families. Hosted by Alicia Meneses Maples, glass child advocate, speaker, and educator. This groundbreaking series gives voice to a hidden population that has been overlooked by families, professionals, and society for far too long.

In this inaugural episode, Alicia courageously shares her personal story and introduces listeners to the concept of glass children: Siblings who grew up “invisible” while their families focused on a brother or sister with high-needs. You’ll discover what it truly means to be a glass child, why this experience is so universal across cultures and generations, and how a 2010 TEDx talk became a viral sensation 13 years later, sparking global conversations about this overlooked population.

(Content Note: This episode and podcast series contains discussions of childhood trauma, neglect, depression, suicidal ideation, and family violence. Please listen with care and seek support if needed)

Ready to join the movement? Here’s how you can help break the silence around glass children:

Share this episode with your bestie, your therapist, your teachers, your minister, your parents. Sharing is caring and hearing is healing.

REMEMBER: If you’re struggling, reach out to a mental health professional. You do not have to do this alone.

Thank you for listening to the I See Glass Children podcast. I’m Alicia Meneses Maples and I see you.

The post The Glass Child Experience – Breaking The Silence appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.

The I See Glass Children podcast illuminates the glass child experience so the world will see them, understand their story, and give them the life-changing help they need.

Alicia Meneses Maples – Glass Child Advocate, Speaker, and Educator

Alicia is an adult glass child who grew up in a high-needs family. Her TEDx talk set a global viral trend about glass children and brought worldwide attention to what has been called “the most devastating, unmet mental health crisis of our time.”

You’ve seen Alicia on NBC, CNN, and in countless online articles. She is an empowered advocate helping other glass children heal and claim their value.

On this podcast, we tell the truth with boldness, own our stories without shame, pursue healing, and claim our value independent of others’ thoughts, feelings, or expectations. Whether you’re a glass child, a professional working with high-needs families, or someone who wants to understand this hidden crisis and make a real difference in a glass child’s life, this podcast is for you.

Don’t miss a single episode. Subscribe and follow I See Glass Children on your favorite podcast platform:

YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | or wherever you get your podcasts

Website: www.ISeeGlassChildren.com

The post I See Glass Children Podcast Trailer appeared first on iseeglasschildren.com.