You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Eu—rope．
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 fiancel0 and asked about yourplans 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 shecried 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 a relative’S birth．day．
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 reading about the burden parents become to
their childrenAnd then Qneshe 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 appre—ciation to the person called mom though some may not say it openly totheir 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 ourthoughts．she is still your mother！！！She will be there for you…to listento your woes，your braggings，your frustrations，etc．Ask yourself…haveyou put aside enough time for her．to listen to her“blues”of working inthe kitchen．her tiredness？Be tactful，loving and still show her due re—spect though you may have a different view from hers．Once gone，onlyfond memories of the past and also regrets will be left．Don’t take forgranted the things closest to your heart．Love her more than you lovevourseIf．Life is meaningless without her…Weeping v．哭着使……滴下，悲叹；哭泣
adj．流泪的；有垂枝的；滴水的crayons n．蜡笔，蜡笔画plopping V．扑通落下；使掉下cradle n．摇篮；支船架；发源地
v．放在摇篮内，抚育；刈割童年时无当你来到这个人世，她将你抱在怀中。你回报她，哭个不停。你1岁时，她给你喂奶，为你洗澡。你回报她，彻夜哭泣。你2岁时，她教会你走路。你回报她，一听到她叫撒腿就跑。你3岁时，她满怀爱心为你准备一日三餐。你回报她，把盘子摔在地上。你4岁时，她送你几支彩色蜡笔。你回报她，在桌布画花。你5岁时，她在节日里将你打扮得漂漂亮亮。你回报她，扑通一声掉进旁边一堆泥巴里。你6岁时，她步行送你上学。你回报她，扯着嗓子叫：“我就是不去！”你7岁时，她给你买来个棒球。你回报她，砸破邻居家的玻璃窗。你8岁时，她递给你一支冰淇淋。你回报她，将冰淇淋滴得膝盖上都是。你9岁时，她掏钱让你学钢琴。你回报她，从不练习。你10岁时，她整天为你开车，从足球场到健身房，从一个生日派对到另一个生日派对。你回报她，跳下车后，头也不回。
你11岁时，她带你和朋友看电影。你回报她，请她坐到另一排。你12岁时，她警告你有些电视节目不要看。你回报她，等她离开非看不可。少年岁月你13岁时，她建议你剪个得体的发型。你回报她，对她说她没品味。你14岁时，她掏钱送你进夏令营。你回报她，整个月连封信也忘记给她写。你15岁时，她下班回到家，期望有人拥抱她。你回报她，把房门锁得紧紧的。你16岁时，她教你怎样开车。你回报她，逮着机会就玩车。你17岁时，她在等一个重要电话。你回报她，煲了一个晚上的电话粥。你18岁时，你高中毕业时，她高兴得眼泪直流。你回报她，在外面聚会彻夜不归。成人、渐老你19岁时，她付钱供你上大学，扛着包开车送你到学校。你回报她，在宿舍门外说再见，为的是不在朋友面前感到难堪。你20岁时，她问你是否在约会。你回报她，对她说，“跟你没关系！”你2l岁时，她为你将来事业提建议。你回报她，对她说，“我不想跟你一样！”你22岁时，大学毕业典礼上，她伸手将你拥抱。你回报她，问她能否掏钱让你到欧洲逛一趟。你23岁时，她为你第一套公寓置办家具。你回报她，对朋友说家具的样式实在不怎么样。你24岁时，她遇到你的未婚夫，问你们将来作何打算。你回报她，对她怒目加咆哮，“妈……求你啦！”你25岁时，她花钱帮你筹办婚礼，哭着说她深深地爱着你。你回报她，安家离她千万里。你30岁时，她打来电话为抚养宝宝提忠告。你回报她，告诉她，“如今情况不一样啦！”你40岁时，她打电话提醒你，不要忘了亲戚的生日。你回报她，说你“现在实在太忙了。”你50岁时，她卧病在床需要你照顾。你回报她，念叨父母成负担。后来有一天，她悄悄地去了。你该做未做的事，突然间像霹雳，在耳边炸响。“摇啊摇，摇我这个小宝宝，一夜到天亮。”“摇着摇篮的手啊……可以摇动世界。”
虽然有些人当着面说不出口，但让我们花上一小会儿时间，对那个叫“妈妈”的人表示敬意，表达感谢。妈妈是无法替代的，珍惜每个与她在一起的时刻吧。虽然有时候，她可能不是我们最好的朋友，也可能不同意我们的想法，但她仍是你的母亲！她始终陪伴在你身边，听你的伤心事，听你吹大牛，听你倾诉沮丧的事情……扪心自问，你是否抽出过足够的时间陪伴她，听她讲围着灶台转的“伤心事”，讲她的疲惫？就算你与她意见不一致，也要委婉，要充满爱心，要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，还有终生的遗憾。不要将最贴心的事情看做理所应当。爱她，要甚于爱你自己。生命没有了她，将了无意义……
开心一刻
A Bad Impression
My husband and I are both writers．During dinner conversations，we oflen tell our children about our working days．It wasn’t clear howmuch they absorbed until one day I overheard my seven—year—old，Lucy，cry out in frustration at her five—year—old sister，Charlotte，“You．you…you editor！”
坏印象
我丈夫和我都是作家。晚上谈话中，我们经常给孩子们谈到我们的工作。没人清楚他们听懂了多少。直到有一天，我偶然听到七岁的女儿卢希烦恼地向她五岁的妹妹喊道：“你，你——你这个编辑！”
