Thank you to all of you that came out to see The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time! I couldn't be more proud of how Drew Saint Amour and the cast brought the story of Christopher to life.
The talkback following the Mother's Day show was an incredible opportunity to connect with the audience, the cast, and their families. Thank you to Sarah, Jorge, and Rosanna for leading this discussion with me! The job of portraying an Autistic character in mainstream media creates a lot of pressure on the cast to “get it right.” Best-selling author and Autism consultant on “Atypical” and "Not Dead Yet," David Finch recently shared his take on portraying Autistic characters. This episode of his podcast, Uniquely Human featured creative team members from the Broadway show with 7 Autistic main characters, “How to Dance in Ohio.” “Don't fall into the trap of trying to represent all of autism in this one character and their storylines. By containing the show's dynamics to those characters and their respective expressions of autism, if none of them are non-speaking, if none of them are challenged in other ways, require 24-7 care, those are creative choices that are made to tell a specific story that's happening on that stage for those couple of hours. And I think when reviewers, critics, whoever, internet commentators, sit there on their armchairs and they say, oh, well, I could have done with some more of this. It's like, well, okay, well, then go write that musical. This was about these seven people and we did it really well. Or this TV show is about this protagonist and we did it really well. It's not all of autism. It's this autistic character and it's going to look a very specific way. You have to draw those lines. Otherwise, the show just isn't relatable anymore. The scope is too big.” -David Finch. I shared this quote with Drew while working with him on The Curious Incident of the Dog at Nighttime. Drew brought his own lived experience, the experiences of a very Neurodivergent friendly cast, and a few tips from me to his portrayal of Christopher. It was beautiful, powerful, hard to watch at times, and impossible to forget. |
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guest writer time!!! Thank YOU to Michelle for sharing her recent experience with “me time" in rehoboth beach duirng her first solo vacation!!!! |
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Being a parent to any teen can be a challenge, but being a parent to an Autistic teen with incredibly high anxiety, demand avoidance and school avoidance (and more) takes it to the next level. Kory suggested I share with her readers something I did to help myself from crashing and burning alongside my daughter. We all know that we have to take care of ourselves first before we can take care of others, but do we really take the time to do that? For Mother’s Day this year, I decided to put my needs first, set aside the guilt, and take a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach alone. ALONE. I had never traveled solo before but it was glorious! I will admit, I felt a bit anxious on the drive down and after arriving at the hotel. My mind wouldn’t settle and I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, so I turned to my trusty Peloton app and did a peace meditation. It quickly became obvious that what I needed from this weekend was peace. I decided to live in the moment and do whatever I needed at the time to feel at peace. If something stopped feeling peaceful I wouldn’t overthink it and I would move on. I started and ended my days with stretches and meditations (things I never take the time to do at home). I took walks on the beach and strolled through town, popping in and out of shops. I treated myself to a unique necklace. I took a nap. I read a book about powerful mothers. I relaxed in the rooftop hot tub and sauna. I checked out a couple good restaurants. I got a massage and pedicure. I was at peace. When I returned home, my daughter greeted me with a hug and a “Happy Mother’s Day!” and we ate dinner together. Unfortunately it’s been a rough week for my daughter and I’ve joked “I left my peace in Rehoboth Beach!”, but I can remember what I learned about myself on this trip and hope to return in 2025- ideally with better weather and a bike ride too! Michelle Wife and Mom of 3 teens/young adults in a neurospicy household |
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Michelle, you are my hero! Solo time can be loaded with guilt for a lot of parents. Parenting is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need to take care of ourselves AND our kiddos. When our kiddos struggle, we struggle right alongside them. Many of us are quick to forget that we need comfort, rest, and time for ourselves too. Michelle did an amazing job making this trip her own. I am so proud of her and the way she shows up for herself and her entire family. My favorite part of this story is that Michelle's daughter greeted her with a hug and a Happy Mother's Day when she returned. Our kiddos will survive our absence while we recharge, and in taking some time for ourselves, we are modeling self-care for them as well! If you are planning your own solo trip, remember that you don't have to plan a lavish getaway in order to recharge. Solitude, a good book, some outdoor time, and QUIET can be found in countless places. Make it happen!!! You'll be glad that you did. |
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There is still time left to come unmask with us. Two private rooms still left in our houses! |
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From the Graphics Department |
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Chaos reigns supreme in my living room! The pups are inexplicably mastering the art of pickleball. Meanwhile, a decidedly out-of-place dinosaur is attempting to self-medicate his prehistoric ADHD with a double espresso. But amidst the pandemonium, there's one truth that transcends time and species: the siren call of fresh, homemade pizza. That woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to me… her taste buds are wired for self-destruction. Because no matter how many times she incinerates the roof of her mouth, that first blissful bite is worth the inevitable pain. This scene, folks, is a testament to the irresistible power of pizza. It's a culinary force that transcends logic and even potential third-degree burns. |
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