This study explores the social and emotional experiences of parents with mentallyrnretarded children. Six mentally retarded children and their respective parents werernthe main subjects of the study. Interview guide was used for data collection. Therndata was presented in a descriptive form and analyzed qualitatively. Two parentsrnquarrelled with their neighbors and other two parents also quarrel with theirrnspouses because of their mentally retarded children. Siblings of the mentallyrn,.rnretarded children complain for being disfavored by their parents. Mentallyrnretarded children deprive 3 of the parents of attending social activities outsidernhome, and the parents are penalized as a result. The news that their children arernmentally retarded makes parents experience such feelings as: shock, grief, anger,rnfear, worry, hopelessness, helplessness and acceptance of the fact. Four of the sixrnparents accepted the reality immediately. The parents vary in their coping. Parents'rnsocial and emotional experiences are partly interdependent. However, they are notrnseen as functions of severity of the disability and sex of the children except thatrnmothers of 2 of the 3 female children are anxious that their children may be raped.rnThe children's improvement, counseling and supports that the parents get help thernparents in the coping. Therefore, the children should get education so that theyrnwould improve. The society at large and ,family members also should bernenlightened as to what mental retardation is and have positive attitude towardsrnmentally retarded children and their parents and be supportive