The Childhood Days

童年时光

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. You thanked her by wailing1) like a banshee2).

你来到人世时，她把你抱在怀里。而你对她的感恩回报，就是像报丧女妖一样哭得天昏地暗。

When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. You thanked her by crying all night long.

你1岁时，她为你哺乳，为你沐浴。而你对她的感恩回报，就是啼哭闹腾，彻夜不休。

When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. You thanked her by running away when she called.

你2岁时，她教你走路。而你对她的感恩回报，就是一听到她呼唤就远远跑开。

When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. You thanked her by tossing¹ your plate on the floor.

你3岁时，她满怀爱心为你准备三餐。而你对她的感恩回报，就是把盘子扔到地上。

When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons3). You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.

你4岁时，她给你几支蜡笔。而你对她的感恩回报，就是把餐桌涂成了大花脸。

When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. You thanked her by plopping4) into the nearest pile of mud.

你5岁时，她在节日里为你精心打扮。而你对她的感恩回报，就是扑通一声摔进旁边一堆泥巴里。

When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school. You thanked her by screaming, “I’M NOT GOING!”

你6岁时，她步行送你去上学。而你对她的感恩回报，就是对她大声尖叫： “我就是不去！”

When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball. You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor’s window.

你7岁时，她给你买来个棒球。而你对她的感恩回报，就是把隔壁邻居家的窗户砸破。

When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream. You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.

你8岁时，她递给你一支冰淇淋。而你对她的感恩回报，就是把冰淇淋滴落得满腿都是。

When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons. You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.

你9岁时，她掏钱让你学钢琴。而你对她的感恩回报，就是从来都懒得练一下。

When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another. You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

你10岁时，她整天忙着开车送你去这去那，从足球场到体操房，又赶着参加一个又一个的生日宴会。而你对她的感恩回报，就是跳下车头也不回地就走了。

When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies. You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.

你11岁时，她带你和朋友去看电影。而你对她的感恩回报，就是请她坐到另一排去。

When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows. You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.

你12岁时，她警告你有些电视节目不要看。而你对她的感恩回报，就是等她外出后偏要看。

Those Teenage Years

青春年少

When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming5). You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.

你13岁时，她建议你把发型修剪得体。而你对她的感恩回报，就是说她一点品味都没有。

When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp. You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.

你14岁时，她花钱让你参加一个月的夏令营。而你对她的感恩回报，就是连一封信都不记得给她写。

When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug. You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.

你15岁时，她下班回到家，期望你能给她一个拥抱。而你对她的感恩回报，就是呆在卧室中将房门紧锁。

When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car. You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.

你16岁时，她教你学开车。而你对她的感恩回报，就是逮着机会就玩车。

When you were 17, she was expecting an important call. You thanked her by being on the phone all night.

你17岁时，她在等一个重要电话。而你对她的感恩回报，就是电话粥煲了一通宵。

When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation. You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.

你18岁时，她为你高中毕业喜极而泣。而你对她的感恩回报，就是在外面参加聚会通宵达旦不回家。

Growing Old and Gray

年华渐增

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition², drove you to campus, carried your bags. You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of your friends.

你19岁时，她为你支付大学的学费，开车送你去学校，帮你提包裹行李。而你对她的感恩回报，就是在宿舍门外匆匆说再见，为的是你不致于在朋友面前感到丢人。

When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone. You thanked her by saying, “It’s none of your business.”

你20岁时，她问你是否在和别人约会。而你对她的感恩回报，就是对她说：“这不关你的事！”

When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future. You thanked her by saying, “I don’t want to be like you.”

你21岁时，她为你将来从事什么职业提出一些建议。而你对她的感恩回报，就是对她说：“我才不愿像你那样！”

When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation. You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.

你22岁时，她在你大学毕业典礼上紧紧拥抱你。而你对她的感恩回报，就是问她能否掏钱让你去欧洲旅行。

When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment. You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.

你23岁时，她为你的第一套公寓置办家具。而你对她的感恩回报，就是告诉朋友说这些家具非常难看。

When you were 24, she met your fiancé and asked about your plans for the future. You thanked her by glaring³ and growling⁴, “Muuhh-ther, please!”

你24岁时，她见到了你的未婚夫，问你们将来有什么打算。而你对她的感恩回报，就是对她怒目而视，大声吼叫：“妈……，求求你别烦了！”

When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you. You thanked her by moving halfway⁵ across the country.

你25岁时，她花钱帮你筹办婚礼，对你哭诉着说她是多么地深爱着你。而你对她的感恩回报，就是把家安得离她远远的。

When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby. You thanked her by telling her, “Things are different now.”

你30岁时，她打来电话为宝宝抚养提出忠告。而你对她的感恩回报，就是告诉她：“现在情况和以前不同了！”

When you were 40, she called to remind you of an relative’s birthday. You thanked her by saying you were “really busy right now”.

你40岁时，她打电话提醒你别忘了一个亲戚的生日。而你对她的感恩回报，就是说你“现在忙得不可开交”。

When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her. You thanked her by talking about the burden parents become to their children.

你50岁时，她生病了需要你照顾。而你对她的感恩回报，就是念叨着父母成为了子女的负担。

And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you never did came crashing down like thunder. “Rock me baby, rock me all night long.” “The hand who rocks the cradle⁶... may rock the world”.

后来，有一天，她静悄悄地去了。所有那些你该做而未做的事，仿佛炸雷般在你耳边轰隆而过。“摇啊摇，小宝宝，一摇摇到大天亮。”“摇摇篮的手啊……可以摇世界。”

Let us take a moment of the time just to pay tribute⁷ and show appreciation⁸ to the person called MOM though some may not say it openly to their mother. There’s no substitute for her. Cherish⁹ every single moment. Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may not agree to our thoughts, she is still your mother!

让我们花一点点时间，对那个被我们叫做“妈”的人表达敬意和感激之情，虽然有些人当着面说不出口。她是不可替代的。珍惜与她在一起的每一时刻吧。虽然有时候，她可能不是我们最好的朋友，可能不同意我们的想法，但她依然是你的妈妈！

Your mother will be there for you; to listen to your woes6), your brags7), your frustrations¹⁰, etc. Ask yourself “Have you put aside enough time for her, to listen to her ‘blues¹¹’ of working in the kitchen, her tiredness?”

你的妈妈始终陪伴你身边，听你倾诉伤心事，听你神吹海侃，听你诉说受挫的沮丧……扪心自问，“是否曾经抽出过足够的时间陪伴她，听听她讲围着灶台转的‘烦心事’，听听她讲她有多疲惫？”

Be tactful, loving and still show her due8) respect, though you may have a different view from hers. Once gone, only fond memories of the past and also regrets will be left.

即使你与她意见不一，也要委婉一些，充满爱心，对她表示出应有的尊敬。一旦她去了，剩下的就只有对过去岁月的美好回忆和无尽的遗憾。

Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart. Love her more than you love yourself. Life is meaningless without her.

不要以为，与你心最近，你就理所应得。爱她要甚于爱你自己。没有了她，生命将毫无意义。