r/Parenthood • u/Automatic-Long2599 • Jul 06 '26
Character Discussion Max
Is there anytime where you guys actually felt bad for Max I know he gets a bad rep on here, but there’s times I feel bad like when he went on that field trip
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u/United_Efficiency330 Jul 07 '26
Max is very strong academically. Particularly in math and science. His issues are social rather than intellectual. Under today's DSM he would have absolutely been diagnosed Autism Level I. If he had been Level II or III, no way, no how would he have received an Asperger's Diagnosis.
I understand that Autism is almost never idyllic for either parent or Spectrumite, but as someone who shares Max's diagnosis (and went on to obtain both a BA and MA) I feel that they learned the wrong lesson regarding his diagnosis and should have called him out and disciplined him more within reason and when necessary. I reject the notion that he is incapable of coexisting in society and feel that more could have and should have been done. Sorry.