by Adriane Tillman | Jun 28, 2013 | ADHD, aging, autism, developmental delays, dogs, empathy, family issues, growing up, hypochondria, maturity, Norwich Terriers, parenting, teaching responsibility
While I may lament (along with legions of other parents), that my “adult” children are growing up so slowly it’s like watching paint dry, at least there’s hope they will one day be independent. Not so with our dog, Sparky, who remains a perpetual child even at...
by Adriane Tillman | Jun 21, 2013 | behavioral therapy, college, colllege graduation. learning disabilities, dieting, Father's Day, Kon Tiki, parent blogs, parenting, tutoring. autism, twins
This Father’s Day, our full house was more like a poker game than a TV sitcom. In other words, my husband was dealt a pretty good hand this year (maybe not a straight flush or four of a kind, but the next best thing). Unlike Mother’s Day, both kids are home. ...
by Adriane Tillman | Jun 14, 2013 | college, dieting, family, HPPA forms, learning disabilities, multiple choice tests, parenting, special needs, student consent forms, tutoring. autism, twins
Now that both Sarah and Max are home from college, I’m getting sucked back into the mommy vortex. Yes, I know my twins are supposed to be adults at age 22. In fact, ever since they turned 18, doctors and educators have refused to talk to me without their...
by Marguerite Elisofon | Jun 8, 2013 | ADHD. care givers, college, family, holidays, Mother's Day, parent blogs, parenting, twins
This Mother’s Day—like other Hallmark holidays—was celebrated without one of my twins. As I’m sure most moms would agree, college papers and finals must take priority. In some ways, mothers of college kids are lucky, because we know where our children are and...
by Marguerite Elisofon | Jun 7, 2013 | Abilify, autism, Body Mass Index, dieting, drug side effects, female self image, parenting, Risperdal, weight control, women
Do you know what your Body Mass Index is? My BMI is 20 and my daughter Sarah’s is 27. To most of us, these numbers have little—if any—meaning. However, for many physicians, the Body Mass Index is both bible and golden yardstick when it comes to determining...
Marguerite Elisofon is a New York City writer and the author of My Picture Perfect Family, a memoir about how her family navigated life with a child on the autistic spectrum before the internet and support groups existed. She also blogs about parenting young adults and disability related issues in The Never Empty Nest. Her writing has been featured in a variety of publications, including Time and NY Metro Parents magazine, and her family’s story has been featured by the NY Post, Fox News, The Daily Mail, and on Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty Sexy Funny radio show. A Vassar graduate, Marguerite was born and raised in New York City, where she still lives with her husband, Howard, in their mostly-empty nest. She is available to speak about a wide variety of issues relating to twins, parenting, and autism. 