看到別的父母，和自己一樣，有一個智障兒的傷痛、徬徨、辛酸，只有我們家長才可以理解。但同時有兩個智障兒子的父母，有多少家長及社會人士能理解當中的痛 。

　　當大兒子兩歲多，醫生診斷他是一個自閉兒的時候，那一種痛，十二年後的今天，亦深深烙在心頭，十年前醫生告訴我小兒子也是自閉兒的時候，我問「天！怎麼會是我！」我只可以用痛來形容我跟丈夫的心情。

　　十年後的今天，我的答案是「可幸是我！」因為在他們身上，我學懂了愛、包容、接受、耐心，更重要的是和丈夫會更同心面對日後的風和雨。

　　現在，兒子已是十二歲和十五歲的少年，他們性格開朗，愛笑愛玩，身體健康，關心別人，我已經心滿意足。然而在尋找學校，學習方面遇到不少困難，有時候亦想放棄，但對孩子反而沒有幫助，倒不如積極面對。在當中我學會去掉比較，滿足孩子點點的進步，每一天是我們的新挑戰，亦常常滿足於孩子的點滴進步。我們對兒子的要求，跟普通孩子不同，只要兒子活得開心、健康、能照顧自己，更重要的是社會能接受他們和活在尊嚴下，是我倆有生之年，希望能達到的目標。

　　和一般家庭不一樣，學業不是孩子的第一位，多年來我們不停的試，不停地找，希望他們有一些活動或興趣，用以強身健體或打發時間之用。我們每天把時間花在接送，上興趣班上，幸好我們的心思並沒有白費，多年下來他們亦找到喜愛的運動，如滑泳、游泳、騎馬及彈網等，是他們喜愛的活動。

　　我的心力全是放在兒子身上直至兩年半前兒子參加了香港特殊奧運會舉辨的運動會，我看見的是努力、開心的運動員，緊張打氣的父母、同工，有愛心的義工。汗水、歡笑、友誼、比比皆是。自此之後，我把部份時間投入義工行列，兒子也參加了2004年日本的特奧冬季賽還拿了一面金牌，更在2005年在日本長野舉辦的特奧冬季世界比賽，拿了兩面金牌。我欣賞的不只是金牌，而是孩子在訓練的路上由一個散漫的小孩，至現在充滿自信，處事積極，這比獎牌更珍貴。在運動感受到孩子受各人的重視而不是奇異的目光，這感受實在太奇妙。在運動場上認識了不少家庭，令我知道我不是孤單一個。

　　往後的日子我相信也不輕鬆，我只能祝福兒子找到的自信尊嚴不要減退，把特奧精神「勇敢嘗試，爭取勝利」用在日常生活中。

-本文由蕭何桂嫻女士於2005年撰寫

I believe only parents having children with intellectual disability (ID) like me can understand the pain and hardness of other parents. However, I bet not many parents and the public can understand the pain of those who have two ID children.

My elder son was diagnosed with Autism when he was two. That painful memory is still in my mind after 12 years. When the doctor told me my younger son was also with Autism 10 years ago, I could only think of “God! Why me!”. Painful was the only word that could describe the feeling of me and my husband.

Today, my answer is “it is a blessing to me!” because I have learnt love, tolerance, acceptance and patience from them. Most importantly, I and my husband will stand by each other to overcome the ups and downs that lie in the future.

Now, my boys are 12 and 15-year-old teenagers. I am happy to see that they are cheerful, energetic, healthy and sympathetic. Nevertheless, I find difficulties in helping them to find schools. I had thought of giving up but considering it makes no help to the children, I rather accept the challenges positively. I have learnt to leave comparison behind and satisfied with the little progress my boys had achieved at the new challenges we meet every day. My requirement towards them is different from the able bodied child. Our lifetime goal is to ensure they can take care of themselves and live happily and healthily. Most importantly, they can be accepted by the community and live with dignity.

Unlike other families, study is not the priority for my children. We have tried hard all these years in search of activities and hobbies for them to enhance physical fitness or to spend their spare time. Luckily, our work does not come in vain. They have found their passion in sports like ice skating, swimming, equestrian and trampoline.

My focus of life was on my boys until two and a half years ago when they took part in the Athletic Meets organized by HKSO. I saw hardworking and happy athletes, cheering parents and staff, and enthusiastic volunteers. Everywhere was full of sweat, but filled with smiles and friendship. After the Athletic Meets, I spend part of the time to do voluntary work. My sons also took part in international competitions. They got a gold medal in the 2004 Special Olympics Winter Games held in Japan and 2 gold medals in the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. Not only the gold medals, I also appreciate the change of my children. They become confident through active participation in training, which is more valuable than getting medals. It is amazing to see our children receiving respect instead of strange sight. I also met lots of families on the field.

Life in the future may not be easy to my sons but I hope they can overcome all the difficulties with confidence and dignity by adopting the spirit of Special Olympics “Let me win. If I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” in their daily life.

- Written by Mrs. Henrietta SIU in 2005