I didn't cry when I learned I was the parent of a mentally handicapped child. I just sat still and didn't say anything while my husband and I were informed that two-year-old Kristi was - as we suspected - retarded.
"Go ahead and cry," the doctor advised kindly. "Helps prevent serious emotional difficulties."
Serious difficulties notwithstanding, I couldn't cry then nor during the months that followed.
When Kristi was old enough to attend school, we enrolled her in our neighborhood school's kindergarten at age seven.
It would have been comforting to cry the day I left her in that room full of self-assured, eager, alert five-year-olds.Kristi had spent hour upon hour playing by herself, but this moment, when she was the "different" child among twenty, was probably the loneliest she had ever known.
However, positive things began to happen to Kristi in her school, and to her schoolmates, too. When boasting of their own accomplishments, Kristi's classmates always took pains to praise her as well: "Kristi got all her spelling words right today." No one bothered to add that her spelling list was easier than anyone else's.
During Kristi's second year in school, she faced a very traumatic experience. The big public event of the term was a competition based on a culmination of the year's music and physical education activities. Kristi was way behind in both music and motor coordination. My husband and I dreaded the day as well.
On the day of the program, Kristi pretended to be sick. Desperately I wanted to keep her home. Why let Kristi fail in a gymnasium filled with parents, students and teachers? What a simple solution it would be just to let my child stay home. Surely missing one program couldn't matter. But my conscience wouldn't let me off that easily. So I practically shoved a pale, reluctant Kristi onto the school bus and proceeded to be sick myself.
Just as I had forced my daughter to go to school, now I forced myself to go to the program. It seemed that it would never be time for Kristi's group to perform. When at last they did, I knew why Kristi had been worried. Her class was divided into relay teams. With her limp and slow, clumsy reactions, she would surely hold up her team.
The performance went surprisingly well, though, until it was time for the gunnysack race. Now each child had to climb into a sack from a standing position, hop to a goal line, return and climb out of the sack.
I watched Kristi standing near the end of her line of players, looking frantic.
But as Kristi's turn to participate neared, a change took place in her team. The tallest boy in the line stepped behind Kristi and placed his hands on her waist. Two other boys stood a little ahead of her. The moment the player in front of Kristi stepped from the sack, those two boys grabbed the sack and held it open while the tall boy lifted Kristi and dropped her neatly into it. A girl in front of Kristi took her hand and supported her briefly until Kristi gained her balance. Then off she hopped, smiling and proud.
Amid the cheers of teachers, schoolmates and parents, I crept off by myself to thank God for the warm, understanding people in life who make it possible for my disabled daughter to be like her fellow human beings.
Then I finally cried.
相关单词：retarded
retarded解释：a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的
retarded例句：
The progression of the disease can be retarded by early surgery. 早期手术可以抑制病情的发展。
He was so slow that many thought him mentally retarded. 他迟钝得很，许多人以为他智力低下。
相关单词：kindly
kindly解释：adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
kindly例句：
Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
相关单词：standing
standing解释：n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
standing例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
相关单词：enrolled
enrolled解释：adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起
enrolled例句：
They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：accomplishments
accomplishments解释：n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就
accomplishments例句：
It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
相关单词：culmination
culmination解释：n.顶点；最高潮
culmination例句：
The space race reached its culmination in the first moon walk.太空竞争以第一次在月球行走而达到顶峰。
It may truly be regarded as the culmination of classical Greek geometry.这确实可以看成是古典希腊几何的登峰造级之作。
相关单词：coordination
coordination解释：n.协调，协作
coordination例句：
Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。
相关单词：dreaded
dreaded解释：adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)
dreaded例句：
The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
相关单词：desperately
desperately解释：adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地
desperately例句：
He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
相关单词：hop
hop解释：n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过
hop例句：
The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？
相关单词：frantic
frantic解释：adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的
frantic例句：
I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。
相关单词：neatly
neatly解释：adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地
neatly例句：
Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
相关单词：briefly
briefly解释：adv.简单地，简短地
briefly例句：
I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
相关单词：hopped
hopped解释：跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花
hopped例句：
He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。
