The Child You Remember
All you remember about your child being an infant is the incredible awe you felt about the precious miracle you created. You remember having plenty of time to bestow all your wisdom and knowledge. You thought your child would take all of your advice and make fewer mistakes, and be much smarter than you were. You wished for your child to hurry and grow up.
All you remember about your child being two is never using the restroom alone or getting to watch a movie without talking animals. You recall afternoons talking on the phone while crouching in the bedroom closet, and being convinced your child would be the first Ivy League1 college student to graduate wearing pullovers2 at the ceremony. You remember worrying about the bag of M&M's melting in your pocket and ruining your good dress. You wished for your child to be more independent.
All you remember about your child being five is the first day of school and finally having the house to yourself. You remember joining the PTA3 and being elected president when you left a meeting to use the restroom. You remember being asked“Is Santa real?”and saying“yes”because he had to be for a little bit longer. You remember shaking the sofa cushions for loose change4, so the toothfairy5 could come and take away your child's first lost tooth. You wished for your child to have all permanent teeth.
你所記得的孩子
當(dāng)你的孩子是個(gè)嬰兒時(shí),你所記得的,是你對(duì)自己創(chuàng)造出的堪稱(chēng)完美奇跡的作品,感到不可思議的敬畏。你記得你有大量的時(shí)間去傳授你所有的智慧和知識(shí)。你認(rèn)為你的孩子將會(huì)接受你所有的忠告而少犯錯(cuò)誤,將會(huì)比孩提時(shí)代的你聰明許多。你多希望你的孩子快快長(zhǎng)大。
孩子兩歲時(shí),你所記得的,是從不能獨(dú)自使用衛(wèi)生間,從不看一部與動(dòng)物無(wú)關(guān)的電影。你記得那些蜷縮在臥室儲(chǔ)衣間跟朋友通電話(huà)的下午,深信你的孩子將是第一個(gè)身著套頭衫出席畢業(yè)典禮的常春藤名牌大學(xué)畢業(yè)生。你記得你擔(dān)心那袋M&M巧克力糖會(huì)在你的衣兜里融化,毀了你體面的衣服。你多希望你的孩子更獨(dú)立些。
孩子5歲時(shí),你所記得的,是他上學(xué)第一天你終于獨(dú)自擁有整個(gè)房子了。你記得參加家長(zhǎng)—教師聯(lián)系會(huì),在你離開(kāi)會(huì)議室去洗手間時(shí),你當(dāng)選為會(huì)長(zhǎng)。你記得孩子問(wèn)你“圣誕老人是真的嗎?”你回答“是的”,因?yàn)樗€需要你的肯定回答,盡管不久他就能自己判斷了。你記得在沙發(fā)墊子下一通翻騰要找出些零錢(qián),這樣牙齒仙女就會(huì)來(lái)把你孩子掉的第一顆牙帶走。你多希望孩子的牙都換成了恒牙。