Size Matters
In the best of all possible worlds, size should not matter any more than race, gender and sexual orientation. Obviously, 2023 is still light years away from this ideal, according to a Sunday New York Times article “In Fashion, Thinness Still Rules.” Hardly, front...
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Everyone Needs an Uncle Andy (or Aunt)
Our family is lucky to have an Uncle Andy. We met decades ago and he became a lifelong friend to me and my family. Like a modern-day fairytale, it all started with our parents many moons ago… Once upon a time, when I was 15 and Andy was 18, we met in Venice on a water...
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The Elasticity of Time
Time flies when you’re having fun—or even when you’re not. My phone and cable box tell me the correct time without fail. My new grandfather clock is 10 minutes slow and I’m not sure how to correct it. I’m supposed to tighten the screw at the bottom of the pendulum,...
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Home for the Holidays – Musical Rooms
When my son comes home for the holidays, we end up playing a game I call Musical Rooms. (Hint: The game is a lot like musical chairs, except I’m the one who’s left without a room). After my son moved to LA over six years ago, we decided to downsize from a...
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Navigating Autism Dating Sites
“Why doesn’t Samantha try a dating site?” My son’s girlfriend suggested that Samantha look for a new boyfriend on-line because that’s how she met Matthew. “What a great idea!” I had thought of it myself years ago, but knew that Samantha would need an autism dating...
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Autism, Optional and Oxymoron
My daughter Samantha, a 31- year-old autistic performer, told me she didn’t want to go to an “optional” rehearsal with Jonathan, her music coach—just four days before her very first one-woman show. That’s when explaining the nuances of meaning embedded in the word...
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My Autistic Daughter’s Night to Shine
With a lot of hard work and a little luck, my daughter Samantha Elisofon performed her very first one-woman show to a full house at the Triad Theater. Samantha called the show “My Resilience and Inspirations” and chose “mantra” songs from a variety of genres that...
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Behind the Scenes of an Autistic Performer’s One Woman Show
My daughter Samantha Elisofon will be performing her FIRST one woman show on June 21. How does she feel about it? “Thrilled to pieces but also anxious and worried. I’ve always performed with others, never all by myself.” That’s the edited summary of her feelings. I...
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Things I Can’t Write About
I wish I could start writing again, but right now that seems like a thankless task. Do you really want my opinion about any of the topics on my exhaustive (and exhausting!) list? COVID 19 and the next booster shot (and the next?) COVID and the new variant – to mask...
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An Autism Mom’s COVID Craziness
The good news is that our daughter Samantha is COVID negative. The bad news is that both of her parents have COVID. Since we live in a two-bedroom apartment, Samantha is the one who must try to isolate. Howard is home for what we both hope will only be a week. His...
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My Book
Consulting
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. 