The package that each of us comes in sometimes consumes us to the point that it prevents us from fulfilling our potential. So much of our self worth comes from how we look, that we forget that our bodies are not just for ornamental purposes – although I do thoroughly enjoy that part too. Our bodies allow us to function and interact with others and our surrounds, enable us to face daily challenges and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

We all have our hang ups, things that we wish were different, that we could change. If only we could make a part of our body larger, smaller, smoother or softer…but in the end will it actually make us happier? For most of us, our bodies do what they were intended to do, and even though they all come in different packages there really is such beauty in diversity.

I have plenty of areas of ‘concern’ or what I like to refer to as my ‘liabilities,’ but I learnt an important lesson upon the birth of my second son. In the three-and-a-half years that have followed, I have learnt to celebrate my body (flaws and all), a body that allows me to undertake the most simple to complex of tasks with ease.

Due to his prematurity (born at 28 weeks) and further complications after birth, my son Max was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP is a disorder affecting a person’s ability to move; it is a permanent life-long condition due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It affects people in different ways and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance.

For Max, his form of CP is all of the above and affects every part of his body. He is unable to sit unaided, crawl, walk, feed himself or talk. We probably focussed for too long on what Max cannot do, but with the help of so many wonderful and dedicated therapists, and Max’s amazing determination he is making gains every day.

It has been a tough journey for Max, and every gain in function – such as being able to eat a sandwich (just achieved!) – has been hard fought, and will often take months of practice. We have come to the realisation that, although Max may not use his body in the same way other children his age would, he has great potential and will achieve his goals in his way.

Max has taught me that by focusing on the positives, having hope and working hard, it is possible to overcome challenges. He has taught me that life is miraculous and that we should never take our capabilities for granted. He has taught me that the package we come in doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Others may think that my son has not arrived in this world in the most perfect of packages and perhaps we did not think so at first either. But he has, and I hope as he grows and matures that he and others will appreciate his beauty.

So yes, I am still aware of the pimples on my chin, the ‘sparklers’ that require colour every four weeks, the bits that are not as pert as they once were and the lines that become deeper every year; but I am very much more aware of the wonderful things that my body can achieve, such as embracing my loved ones, telling them how much I love them and eating a large block of chocolate.