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 League college student to graduate wearing pullovers 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 PTA 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 change， so the tooth-fairy could come and take away your child‘s first lost tooth. You wished for your child to have all permanent teeth.
All you remember about your child being seven is the carpool schedule. You learned to apply makeup in two minutes and brush your teeth in the rear-view mirror because the only time you had to yourself was when you were stopped at red lights. You considered painting your car yellow and posting a“taxi”sign on the lawn next to the garage door. You remember people staring at you， the few times you were out of the car， because you kept flexing your foot and making acceleration noises. You wished for the day your child would learn how to drive.
All you remember about your child being ten is managing the school fund raisers. You sold wrapping paper for paint， T-shirts for new furniture， and magazine subscriptions for shade trees in the school playground. You remember storing a hundred cases of candy bars in the garage to sell so the school band could get new uniforms， and how they melted together on an unseasonably warm spring afternoon. You wished your child would grow out of playing an instrument.
All you remember about your child being twelve is sitting in the stands during baseball practice and hoping your child’s team would strike out fast because you had more important things to do at home. The coach didn‘t understand how busy you were. You wished the baseball season would be over soon.
All you remember about your child being fourteen is being asked not to stop the car in front of the school in the morning. You had to drive two blocks further and unlock the doors without coming to a complete stop. You remember not getting to kiss your child goodbye or talking to him in front of his friends. You wished your child would be more mature.
All you remember about your child being sixteen is loud music and undecipherable lyrics screamed to a rhythmic beat. You wished for your child to grow up and leave home with the stereo.
All you remember about your child being eighteen is the day they were born and having all the time in the world.
And， as you walk through your quiet house， you wonder where they went and you wish your child hadn’t grown up so fast.
当你在寂静的房子里走来走去时，你猜想着他们去了哪里，你多么希望你的孩子不要这么快长大。
参考翻译（佚名）
当你的孩子是个婴儿的时候，你所记得的，是惊讶于自己创造出来的堪称完美奇迹的作品，并对其怀有不可思议的敬畏。你记得用大量时间去传授你所有的智慧和知识。你认为你的孩子会接受你所有的忠告而少犯错误，会比你孩提时聪明得多。你希望你的孩子迅速长大。
孩子两岁时，你所记得的是，你从不能单独使用卫生间，或者从没看过一部与动物无关的电影。你记得蜷缩在卧室衣柜与朋友通电话的那些下午，深信你的孩子会是毕业典礼上第一个身着套头衫的常青藤名校毕业生。你记得你担心口袋里的那袋巧克力豆会融化在衣兜里，毁坏你体面的衣服。你多么希望你的孩子更加独立。
孩子五岁的时候，你所记得的是，他第一天去上学，而你终于独自拥有了整个房子。你记得参加了家长会，你被选为会长。当你离开会议室去洗手间时，你记得，孩子问你：“真的有圣诞老人吗？”
你说：“是的。”因为他还需要一段时间才能自己判断。你记得在沙发垫子下一通翻腾，找出些零钱，这样牙齿仙子会过来带走孩子掉落的第一颗牙齿，你多希望孩子的牙都换成了恒牙。
孩子七岁的时候，你所记得的是合伙用车。你学会了在两分钟内化完妆，照着汽车后视镜刷牙，因为你只有在等汽车停在红灯前时才能给自己找出一点儿时间。你考虑着把车子漆成黄色，放个“出租车”的标志在车库门旁的草坪上。你记得有几次下车后，有人盯着你看，因为你不断用脚踩油门加速，制造噪音。你多希望你的孩子能学会开车。
孩子十岁的时候，你所记得的是组织学校的募捐者，你们兜售包装纸，所得的钱用来粉刷学校，卖T恤衫的钱用来添置新家具，为了在学校操场上种些遮阳树，你们劝人订阅杂志。你记得车库里有上百盒糖果等待出售，卖得钱后学校的乐队就可以购置新制服，可那些糖果竟全部化在一起了，那个春天的下午简直太暖和了。你多么希望孩子快快长大不再玩什么乐器。
孩子十二岁的时候，你所记得的是，坐在看台上看棒球练习赛，你希望孩子所在的队能很快被淘汰出局，因为家里还有更重要的事儿等着你去做。教练不明白为什么你总是那么忙，你多希望棒球赛季能很快过去。
孩子十四岁时，你所记得的是，早上他不让你把汽车停在学校门口，你只好向前开过两条街，车还没停稳就赶紧打开车门。你记得在他朋友面前你没有跟他吻别或者说话。你多希望你的孩子能更成熟些。
孩子十六岁的时候，你所记得的是，吵闹的音乐和那些节奏感极强的尖声唱出的晦涩难懂的歌词。你多希望孩子快点儿长大，带着音响离开家。
孩子十八岁了，你所记得的是，他们出生的那一天，以及他们成长中的点点滴滴。
当你在寂静的房子里走来走去时，你猜想着他们去了哪里，你多希望你的孩子不要这么快长大。
Love Is a Two-way Street 爱是一条双行道
Anonymous
A father sat at his desk poring over his monthly bills when his young son rushed in and announced，“Dad， because this is your birthday and you‘re 55 years old， I’m going to give you 55 kisses， one for each year！”
When the boy started making good on his word， the father exclaimed“， Andrew， don‘t do it now； I’m too busy！”
Oh，
The youngster immediately fell silent as tears welled up in his big blue eyes. Apologically the father said，“You can finish later.”
The boy said nothing but quietly walked away， disappointment written over his face. That evening the father said，“Come and finish the kisses now， Andrew！”But the boy didn‘t respond.
Unfortunately， a few days later after this incident， the boy had an accident and was drowned. His heartbroken father wrote，“If only I could tell him how much I regret my thoughtless words， and could be assured that he knows how much my heart is aching.”
Love is a two-way street. Any loving act must be warmly accepted or it will be taken as rejection and can leave a scar. If we are too busy to give and receive love， we are too busy！ Nothing is more important than responding with love to the cry for love from those who are near and precious to us. Because there may be no chance at all as in the case of the little boy.
对我们身边那些亲近和珍贵的人，用爱去回应他们爱的呼唤，这才是最重要的事。
参考翻译（佚名）
父亲坐在书桌边仔细核对着月账单，此时他的小儿子冲进屋来，大声宣告：“爸爸，今天是你的生日，55岁生日，我要给你55个吻，1年1个！”当男孩准备兑现诺言时，他父亲大声说道：“哦，安德鲁，现在不行，我忙不过来！”
小家伙立刻变得沉默了，泪水如泉水般从他蓝色的大眼睛里涌出来。父亲只好满怀歉意地说：“待会儿再来亲我吧。”
男孩一言不发地走开了，脸上写满了失望。那天晚上，父亲说：“来吧，安德鲁，现在可以亲了！”但是男孩没有回应。
很不幸，这件事过后没几天，男孩因意外溺水身亡。他那心碎的父亲写道：“如果我能让他知道，那些不假思索的话令我多懊悔，他一定就能知道我心里有多痛。”
爱是一条双行道。爱需要热情的接纳，不然对方会以为你在拒绝，从而在内心留下疤痕。要是我们忙得连给予和接纳爱的时间都没有，那真是说不过去了！对我们身边那些亲近和珍贵的人，用爱去回应他们爱的呼唤，这才是最重要的事。遇到小男孩类似的情况，真是追悔莫及啊。
I “Heard” the Love 我“听”见了爱
Anonymous
