Being Special

Two nights ago, i chatted with a ex-colleague. She is a special friend cos while we were working together, she was like a younger sister i never had :)

She was just fresh out of school when she joined the company. Very eager to learn and very jovial and spirited. During the 6 years (i think) i was at the company, i had the honour to share in her journey through significant events surrounding her career and personal relationships (first boyfriend, lol).

We have both left the company since. She got married (i was at the wedding dinner too!) and is now a mother of a 3-year-old kid. We kept in touch though not too frequently through emails and sms and more recently via facebook. When we chatted that night, i told her it was hard to believe that the little girl i knew is a mum now. She said she was 19 then, and 19 is NOT little, lol. Still a teen mah and i wasn't one ;-)

Then she dropped the news that her kid has just been diagnosed to have special needs. My heart sank. i know of friends with kids in the same condition, but i didn't feel the same sense of loss for them like i have for her situation.

But she's a tough girl. She's coping with the situation. i'm sure she doesn't need "oh, what a pity" from us.

i cannot say that i understand how challenging the road ahead will be for her. i know of one mum whose kid is the same age as Ewan. He is also in the same school as my boys. But he is being bullied because he has special needs. My friend found out that a classmate has been taking his money! In addition, his form teacher has sort of repeatedly told them that he is more suited to a special school. And, to make things worse, the 2 special needs officer in the school went on a 4 month maternity leave, sigh. This young mum often calls me to lament that she is trying her best to support her kid but the school situation is just throwing up one obstacle after another :(

Coincidentally, after the chat with my friend that night, i read my favourite blogger blogging about his firstborn who has the same special need. He said something like "She's 8 years old, if she isn't xx, she would have been in Primary 2." But he is celebrating every little achievement she makes.

Yep, i think that would have been the best way to deal with what life gives us - to celebrate every little step forward.

Take courage fren.