The small boy took several hours to paint the stark black and vibrant red portrait titled "Pa' Yoyok" on display at a charity exhibition at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Central Jakarta.
"I think the man in the painting is my husband, Idham's father," said Durri Andriani, the mother of the 10-year-old painter, during a talk show held in connection with a charity art exhibition last Saturday.
Idham, who was born with Down syndrome, is one of four children with special needs participating, along with 96 other children, in the Kasih Bunda Mengantar Pelukis Muda (a mother's love motivates a young painter) exhibition sponsored by PT Unilever, Citra, Sanggar Lukis Anyelir Merah and Rumah Belajar, among others.
Durri said her husband was close to Idham and always took him swimming, to therapists and on walks around Jakarta.
"My husband is closer to Idham than me. He has never had a problem accepting Idham."
The talk show discussed the experience of 20 parents who care for their children with disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism.
Durri said that Idham has matured at a slower pace than his two older sisters. He was late to learn many things such as how to walk and talk.
"Even at 18 months old, he could not walk. Most kids can walk at 12 months," Durri said.
She said she learned to accept the reality of her son's condition.
"He is a gift from God, and we have to accept his condition no matter how difficult."
As a child with special needs, Idham requires more attention and time from his parents. They take Idham to several therapists and are learning how to help Idham live a normal life.
As time passed, they notice that Idham liked painting. So his mother took Idham to a teacher and Idham started to learn.
Mr. Yoyok is just one of Idham's many paintings.
Agnes Soerjana, the chief editor of Special Children Magazine said most parents of special needs children initially deny the reality.
"They are embarrassed," she said.
Some parents blame each other and finally break up.
"It takes a strong person to accept the reality, and of course it takes time. That is why these children require strong parents," she added.
Reza Gunawan, a holistic medical practitioner, said parents had to seek ways to address the difficults of raising a child with special needs.
"Before we can address the situation, we have to stop judging ourselves."
According to Reza, most parents blame themselves for the condition of their children. They might think that the children are punishment for their past sins.
He said parents should not force their children to go to many therapists because that could make them feel bad about themselves.
"The important thing is to make sure that the children are happy. Treatment is their parent's idea, and sometimes they don't know whether their children are happy or not with the treatment." (naf)
