給仔仔女女

• ON MAY 12, 2008

很多年前在電台聽到一位節目主持人，他在節目中讀出了一段文章, 聽後令我感動非常，今天想和各位分享。

「孩子，當你還很小的時候，我花了很多時間，教你慢慢用湯匙、用筷子吃東西、教你繫鞋帶、扣扣子、溜滑梯、教你穿衣服、梳頭髮、擰鼻涕，這些和你在一起的點點滴滴，是多麼的令我懷念不已。所以，當我想不起來、接不上話時，請給我一點時間、等我一下，讓我再想一想‥‥‥極可能最後連要說什麼，我也一併忘記。

孩子，你忘記我們練習了好幾百回，才學會的第一首娃娃歌嗎﹖是否還記得每天總要我絞盡腦汁去回答不知道從哪裡冒出來的問題嗎﹖所以，當我重複又重複，說著老掉牙的故事、哼著我孩提時代的兒歌時，體諒我，讓我繼續沉醉在這些回憶中吧！切望你，也能陪著我閒話家常吧！

孩子，現在我常忘了扣扣子、繫鞋帶、吃飯時會弄髒衣服、梳頭髮時手還會不停的抖，不要催促我，要對我多一點耐心和溫柔，只要有你在一起，就會有很多的溫暖湧上心頭 。

孩子，如今，我的腳站也站不穩、走也走不動，所以，請你緊緊的握著我的手，陪著我，慢慢的，就像當年一樣，我帶著你一步一步地走。

爸爸、媽媽」

Many years ago, I heard a radio presenter read a passage, which touched me deeply.  I would like to share it with you today.

Child, when you were still little, I spent a lot of time to teach you how to use a spoon and chopsticks to eat.  I taught you how to lace your shoes, button up your shirt, slide down a slide.  I taught you how to get dressed, how to comb your hair, how to wipe your nose.  How I miss these bits and pieces with you.  Therefore, when I can’t think, and can’t find words, give me a little time.  Wait for me a bit.  Let me think.  It’s very likely that in the end, I’ll forget everything that I have meant to say.

Child, have you forgotten the first nursery rhyme that we had practiced a hundred times? Do you still remember how every day you came up with all those questions that only God knows where they came from that you made me think so hard to answer?  So, when I repeat myself, telling the same old stories time after time, humming the songs from my childhood, be generous to me, and let me lose myself in these memories.  I wish from the bottom of my heart that you would be here, chatting away with me.

Child, now I often forget to button up my shirt, or lace my shoes.  I make a mess at supper, and my hands shake involuntarily when I comb my hair.  Don’t urge me.  Give me a little patience and tenderness.  As long as you’re here with me, there is warmth in my heart.

Child, now my feet are not steady,  and I can’t even walk.  So, please hold my hands tight, stay with me, slowly, just like all those years ago, when I held you as you walked, step by step.

Your Mum and Dad