25 Things to be Thankful for in an Overwhelmingly Challenging World
Although I feel like the world is in a very dark place—especially for women—there’s still room for gratitude. Admittedly, I must dig deeper to create my post-election gratitude list. The last time I posted about gratitude (25 Things to Be Thankful for in a Challenging...
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My Left-Handed Challenges
What's it like to suddenly--if temporarily--adapt to being left handed? After "minor surgery" on my right wrist (DeQuervain's release) on August 9th, I’m living a left-handed life. DeQuervain’s release was the surgery necessary to reduce swelling and pressure on a...
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My Not So Secret Garden
Who would have thought that a New York City girl like me would become a gardener on our 31 st floor balcony? Although I’ve never possessed a green thumb, I fell in love flowers and decided to cultivate my own mini-garden. Despite three surgeries, I persevered in...
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Lessons from my 50th High School Reunion
To go or not to go to my 50threunion at the Trinity School? I had never gone to any of my previous high school reunions, so why start at my 50th? Fifty years is SUCH a long time, most of an adult life! There’s no denying the passage of time—or the aging process. I was...
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Happy Ending Surgery
Nobody plans a hip replacement for February 14th, right? But that appointment time turned out to be my unexpected Valentine’s Day gift this year. How did this happen? My story begins with a previous appointment to undergo surgery on January 4th. I had requested an...
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Falling into Fall
Usually I love summer and wish it would last longer, but not this year. Between breast cancer, COVID and hip pain, the summer of 2023 has been one of my worst. My only good news is that I don’t have the BRCCA gene, don’t need a double mastectomy or a hysterectomy. The...
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An Autism Mom’s Cancer Journey Continues
In some ways, this July 4th was a celebration for me personally as well as for our country. My breast cancer surgeon said the lab results on my lumpectomy were negative. “Clean margins and no spread to the lymph nodes.” I am deeply relieved and grateful. But happy?...
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An Autism Mom Explains Breast Cancer to Her Daughter
Before I could explain my recent breast cancer diagnosis to Samantha, I had to understand it myself. How could this have happened? No one in my family has breast cancer. I was never a smoker or heavy drinker. I exercise, eat healthy and maintain my weight. I even take...
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Love Letter to a Difficult Mom
My first Mother’s Day without my mom is coming up on Sunday, May 7th. Friends ask if I miss her and how it will feel to celebrate without her. Honestly, no, I won’t miss her. Long ago, I deeply missed the love and kindness that I needed so badly as a child. But I...
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Autism and Aging Out
Why are there fewer audition opportunities for my daughter Samantha this year? According to her acting coach, Samantha is aging out. Every year more aspiring actors graduate from college. Those recent graduates—with and without disabilities—are competing with Samantha...
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About Marguerite
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. 