[Christiane]

This resonates so much. I teared up.

[Christiane]

We just got an email, she missed it and it’s taking place tomorrow instead

[Christiane]

I’m training myself not to call it “autism” outside of our group because the visceral reaction of people when I talk about autism is so strong that no conversation is possible. I’ve found that “neurodivergence”, on the other hand, invites confidence. It makes people feel special and unique.

Also, yes. I’ve started to wonder if I know (of or personally) any neurotypical women!

[Christiane]

[Christiane]

So I’m wondering. What part of the email made you think that the meeting was still on Wednesday and not moved to Thursday? I’m trying to find a way to make my question seem less rude, but I’m really just super curious. Especially because Penelope sent a “correction” email saying she was sorry she wasn’t clear and that the meeting was on Thursday. I read the first email straight away as “the new date is Thursday” and I’m trying to figure out which part of it made people think it was still Wednesday, just in the evening?

[Christiane]

I love the question and am very curious to hear what others think.

[Christiane]

1-2 a week with my partner of 10 years. He for sure has a higher sex drive than me though, so this is the middle ground. Am curious about others

[Christiane]

Sometimes, yes. We’re working on deescalation techniques now to prevent meltdowns and bad fighting. But if anybody has more tips I’d appreciate them.

[Christiane]

I find religion very interesting too. Raised Catholic with a sprinkling of Lutheran and Jewish, but very much an atheist today (sometimes vehemently so).

I’d venture to say that I know more about religion than each of my 4 pretty religious siblings. It triggers me when I know more than them about a specific Bible passage or a Kashrut law. I have to hold myself back from saying “but YOU’re the one who BELIEVES in this stuff!!!”. I know faith has nothing to do with accumulating knowledge, but still, deep down I feel like if they really cared about that, they should make it a bit more of a special interest 😅

I have had some of the most interesting and deep conversations of my life with religious people, but it’s for sure just an intellectual pursuit for me.

Luckily I’m completely aligned with my husband, who grew up crazy religious and has left all of that behind too. Makes raising children easier I believe.

[Christiane]

I wonder that too. Is there any further research about the link between ADHD and autism in women?

[Christiane]

@marcia thank you for your feedback. That’s really interesting to hear. As an INFJ I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about how I work and what makes me happy and what doesn’t, and then set out to create the right environment for me. I think it makes me more authentic in the workplace and is a reason I haven’t yet experienced any sort of burnout related to camouflaging.

[Christiane]

I think it depends on whether you’re sending this to superiors or people working for you. I agree that it could seem a bit precious to send this to the whole company.

But our new (female) CEO had a talk with us on her first day that was basically a “how to work with me” presentation – and I found it SO helpful. It created way less friction and “what do you think she meant by that” and “she never replied to my proposal, do you think she thinks I’m stupid” among the team. We settled down to work straight away with a very clear vision. Surprise, she’s totally autistic too and just doesn’t know it.

I also wonder if it’s a generational thing. Gen Z expects to be respected and accepted at the workplace for who they are. If it’s OK to tell your colleagues which pronouns you prefer, you can also tell them that you have ADHD and might need an extra nudge to remember something, or that if anyone ever things you’re rude, to just bring it up because you don’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings.

I actually find it refreshing, to be able to have these conversations with people about what our strengths are and how to best make use of them in a company setting. But then maybe I’m just surrounded with autistic people who find that fascinating too.

[Christiane]

I only saw your message now! Yes it was really hard for me too. But then I realized – good for her if she can fit in with her peer group better than I did. It was hard for me, it doesn’t have to be hard for her.

[Christiane]

I tested and identify as an INFJ and I wonder the same thing.

[Christiane]

These are very interesting thoughts. Penelope herself was a journalist too, has written books, and obviously has her blog. Did she grow out of her poor reading comprehension? Or can she write but not read? I’d love to understand this better.