I am a Mother

"Oh...."
     It's a word I get far too often. How can such a small word be filled with so many questions?
"Was he early?"
     "No."
"He's how old?"
     "11 months."
"Oh...."
     How do you explain to a stranger- in 30 seconds or less - the complexity that is Max, when all they did was ask the universal default question when one sees a cute babe, "How old is he?" It's been almost a year since Max was born. I naively thought I would be used to it all by now. I mean, it's been a WHOLE year! But I still don't have the magic response that answers all those unanswered questions in their eyes, and I'm starting to think I probably never will.
    No, Max is not just a preemie. He's not Down's, Autistic, or Prader-Willi. He doesn't have spina bifida or cerebral palsy. He's not any of those things. He never will be. He is Max. He is my Max. Why can't that be enough? Why do we have to put him into a category? Sure, it would be easier to explain, and probably easier to get funds to help with medical necessities, but he isn't. He IS severely handicapped, although he may not look it. No, I have no idea if he will ever walk or communicate. I don't know if he'll be able to feed himself, take care of himself, go to school, or kick a ball. Yes, I definitely HOPE that he will be able to do all those things and more. But don't expect me to predict the future. I'm just a Mom. To simply answer your questions, all I can say is, I DON'T KNOW!!! To all you doctors who call yourselves "specialists," who went to school for many years and paid lots of money for that schooling, I need to remind you that I am his Mother, and that is more than any of you will ever be. Yes, I'm confiding in all of you to help me, but it's incredibly frustrating when you're not on my side and questioning every one of my decisions. I am the one that lives with him. I am the one that God chose to raise him. I am still trying to wrap my brain around that. Max is here for a reason and so I will fight for him. Fighting is hard. But that little 10-pounder is worth every knockout.