The Love That Max 2017 Year in Review

It's time, once again, to look back on the year's highlights, whoas, uh-ohs, milestones, inchstones and everything in between.

In January, Max helped his little brother learn to walk and planned (and planned and planned) a trip to Disney World, and I struggled with a painful part of a camp form.

In February, Max wanted to discuss his differences, went to a prom and participated in a program that showed that it isn't that hard to include people with disabilities.

In March, Max ice-skated in a very unique way and did supermarket therapy with his speech therapist; a mom shared an amazing story about what happened when her son found the r-word spelled out at Target; and I wrote a letter to parents whose children have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and poked fun at the weird habits of special needs moms. (Guilty!)

In April, Max reminded us all to focus on what you can do, not what you can't and Jimmy Kimmel brought me back to that time after Max was born.

In May, Max declared that he does not have special needs, and I shared the lessons I learned from finding a new school for Max and made peace with the lack of togetherness on family vacation.

In June, Max walked a fashion runway and read a food label, and I pondered what it's like to compare your child with disabilities to his peer with disabilities and rounded up some great cups and water bottles for kids and teens with disabilities.

In July, Max climbed into a car on his own for the first time and took a short walk by himself that was a giant leap for Maxkind, and parents shared 35 good ways to treat children and teens with disabilities.

In August, I spoke out against people who think that children with special needs shouldn't attend baseball games, Sabrina volunteered for Max's program (and continues to!) and Max rocked as a big brother.

Max started high school in September, proved that he knows his strengths and—during a trip to a zoo—reminded us that you're never too old to do basically anything. I had mixed feelings about people giving Max free mac 'n cheese but gladly ate a plastic hot dog for dinner that Max "grilled" for me. Also, I scored an interview with the stars of Born This Way.

In October, Max achieved his fantasy of riding a fire truck in a parade, I didn't help Max this one time (and it was a good thing) plus I tried to see his future and failed. A show with an actor who has cerebral palsy made me realize that it's good to talk about our children's differences.

In November, I fretted about what kind of job Max would someday have, accepted that I had to keep an open mind about it, felt glad to know about the big blue swing in the park and explained why raising Max makes me celebrate Thanksgiving 365 days a year.

In December, Max wrote about his trip to Las Vegas. I acknowledged that sometimes what holds back our children is us, shared the things you don't know when you become a special needs mom, composed a rap song to Eminem and explained why we wouldn't change our children for the world.

Amen. Hoping you and your family have the happiest of new years!

xo