by Marguerite Elisofon | Jun 13, 2014 | air conditioning, autism, college graduates, construction, elevators, emissions, family, landlords, love nest, Neil Simon, Norwich Terriers, Second Avenue, subways, tenants, traffic, young adults
The way our family lives now has completely changed from ten years ago—but not necessarily for the better. Ever since New York City started work on a subway for Second Avenue—where unfortunately our nest is located—our quality of life has gone downhill. Even...
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 Adriane Tillman | May 31, 2013 | ADHD, college, college graduation, commencement speakers, family, Kirsten Gillibrand, parenting, politicians, Shirley Chisolm, twins
What could be more special than watching your child’s college graduation? Answer: Watching your child graduate from the same school where you received your diploma 35 years earlier. Max’s May 26th graduation from “our” alma mater was the ultimate déjà...
by Adriane Tillman | May 24, 2013 | ADHD, blogging, college graduation, comedy, family, humor, hypochondria, internet privacy issues, Mother's Day, parent blogs, parenting, technology issues, Virginia Woolf, women writers
Counting down the days to Max’s graduation, our phone conversations cover a lot of territory: slogging through the last college paper, enjoying senior week festivities, saying goodbye to friends and my son’s erratic job search. On our last phone call, Max...
by Adriane Tillman | May 10, 2013 | actors with disabilities, ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, autism, college, family, film festivals, parenting, Tourette's Syndrome
Last May, Sarah was “discovered” by a Columbia University film director. Director Rachel Israel was looking for someone to play opposite a young man with Asperger’s and Tourette’s Syndrome in her thesis film. She had already auditioned 100 neurotypical...
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. 