母親節(5月11日)快到了，讓我們花一點點時間，對那個被我們叫做“媽”的人表達敬意和感激之情……

The Childhood Days

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Those Teenage Years

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

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

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

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

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

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

童年時光

你來到人世時，她把你抱在懷里。而你對她的感恩回報，就是像報喪女妖一樣哭得天昏地暗。

你1歲時，她為你哺乳，為你沐浴。而你對她的感恩回報，就是啼哭鬧騰，徹夜不休。

你2歲時，她教你走路。而你對她的感恩回報，就是一聽到她呼喚就遠遠跑開。

你3歲時，她滿懷愛心為你準備三餐。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把盤子扔到地上。

你4歲時，她給你幾支蠟筆。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把餐桌涂成了大花臉。

你5歲時，她在節日里為你精心打扮。而你對她的感恩回報，就是撲通一聲摔進旁邊一堆泥巴里。

你6歲時，她步行送你去上學。而你對她的感恩回報，就是對她大聲尖叫： “我就是不去！”

你7歲時，她給你買來個棒球。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把隔壁鄰居家的窗戶砸破。

你8歲時，她遞給你一支冰淇淋。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把冰淇淋滴落得滿腿都是。

你9歲時，她掏錢讓你學鋼琴。而你對她的感恩回報，就是從來都懶得練一下。

你10歲時，她整天忙著開車送你去這去那，從足球場到體操房，又趕著參加一個又一個的生日宴會。而你對她的感恩回報，就是跳下車頭也不回地就走了。

你11歲時，她帶你和朋友去看電影。而你對她的感恩回報，就是請她坐到另一排去。

你12歲時，她警告你有些電視節目不要看。而你對她的感恩回報，就是等她外出后偏要看。

青春年少

你13歲時，她建議你把發型修剪得體。而你對她的感恩回報，就是說她一點品味都沒有。

你14歲時，她花錢讓你參加一個月的夏令營。而你對她的感恩回報，就是連一封信都不記得給她寫。

你15歲時，她下班回到家，期望你能給她一個擁抱。而你對她的感恩回報，就是呆在臥室中將房門緊鎖。

你16歲時，她教你學開車。而你對她的感恩回報，就是逮著機會就玩車。

你17歲時，她在等一個重要電話。而你對她的感恩回報，就是電話粥煲了一通宵。

你18歲時，她為你高中畢業喜極而泣。而你對她的感恩回報，就是在外面參加聚會通宵達旦不回家。

Growing Old and Gray

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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 halfway across the country.

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

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”.

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.

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 cradle... may rock the world”.

Let us take a moment of the time just to pay tribute and show appreciation to the person called MOM though some may not say it openly to their mother. There’s no substitute for her. Cherish 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!

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

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.

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

年華漸增

你19歲時，她為你支付大學的學費，開車送你去學校，幫你提包裹行李。而你對她的感恩回報，就是在宿舍門外匆匆說再見，為的是你不致于在朋友面前感到丟人。

你20歲時，她問你是否在和別人約會。而你對她的感恩回報，就是對她說：“這不關你的事！”

你21歲時，她為你將來從事什么職業提出一些建議。而你對她的感恩回報，就是對她說：“我才不愿像你那樣！”

你22歲時，她在你大學畢業典禮上緊緊擁抱你。而你對她的感恩回報，就是問她能否掏錢讓你去歐洲旅行。

你23歲時，她為你的第一套公寓置辦家具。而你對她的感恩回報，就是告訴朋友說這些家具非常難看。

你24歲時，她見到了你的未婚夫，問你們將來有什么打算。而你對她的感恩回報，就是對她怒目而視，大聲吼叫：“媽……，求求你別煩了！”

你25歲時，她花錢幫你籌辦婚禮，對你哭訴著說她是多么地深愛著你。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把家安得離她遠遠的。

你30歲時，她打來電話為寶寶撫養提出忠告。而你對她的感恩回報，就是告訴她：“現在情況和以前不同了！”

你40歲時，她打電話提醒你別忘了一個親戚的生日。而你對她的感恩回報，就是說你“現在忙得不可開交”。

你50歲時，她生病了需要你照顧。而你對她的感恩回報，就是念叨著父母成為了子女的負擔。

后來，有一天，她靜悄悄地去了。所有那些你該做而未做的事，仿佛炸雷般在你耳邊轟隆而過。“搖啊搖，小寶寶，一搖搖到大天亮。”“搖搖籃的手啊……可以搖世界。”

讓我們花一點點時間，對那個被我們叫做“媽”的人表達敬意和感激之情，雖然有些人當著面說不出口。她是不可替代的。珍惜與她在一起的每一時刻吧。雖然有時候，她可能不是我們最好的朋友，可能不同意我們的想法，但她依然是你的媽媽！

你的媽媽始終陪伴你身邊，聽你傾訴傷心事，聽你神吹海侃，聽你訴說受挫的沮喪……捫心自問，“是否曾經抽出過足夠的時間陪伴她，聽聽她講圍著灶臺轉的‘煩心事’，聽聽她講她有多疲憊？”

即使你與她意見不一，也要委婉一些，充滿愛心，對她表示出應有的尊敬。一旦她去了，剩下的就只有對過去歲月的美好回憶和無盡的遺憾。

不要以為，與你心最近，你就理所應得。愛她要甚于愛你自己。沒有了她，生命將毫無意義。

1. wail [weil] vi. 哀號，嚎啕

2. banshee [5bAnFi:] n. (愛爾蘭和蘇格蘭民間傳說中的)女妖精(其顯形或哀嚎預示家庭中將有人死亡)

3. crayon [5kreiEn] n. 有色粉筆，蠟筆

4. plop [plCp] vi. 撲通落下

5. becoming [bi5kQmiN] adj. 合適的，適當的

6. woe [wEu] n. 悲哀

7. brag [brA^] n. 吹牛

8. due [dju:] adj. 應得的