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.
All you remember about your child being seven is the carpool6 schedule. You learned to apply makeup in two minutes and brush your teeth in the rearview mirror1 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 flexing2 your foot and making acceleration3 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 subscriptions4 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 unseasonably5 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 stands6 during baseball practice and hoping your child's team would strike out7 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 undecipherable8 lyrics9 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.
相关单词：incredible
incredible解释：adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的
incredible例句：
Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。
相关单词：awe
awe解释：n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧
awe例句：
The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。
相关单词：bestow
bestow解释：v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费
bestow例句：
He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？
相关单词：crouching
crouching解释：v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )
crouching例句：
a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
相关单词：ivy
ivy解释：n.常青藤，常春藤
ivy例句：
Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。
相关单词：makeup
makeup解释：n.组织；性格；化装品
makeup例句：
Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？
相关单词：unlock
unlock解释：v.启示，揭示，开...的锁
unlock例句：
The border police required the traveler to unlock his luggage.边防警察要求旅客打开行李。
We heard somebody unlock the door.我们听见有人开门锁。
相关单词：rhythmic
rhythmic解释：adj.有节奏的，有韵律的
rhythmic例句：
Her breathing became more rhythmic.她的呼吸变得更有规律了。
Good breathing is slow,rhythmic and deep.健康的呼吸方式缓慢深沉而有节奏。
相关单词：stereo
stereo解释：adj.有立体视觉的，立体声的；n.固定形象，立体声
stereo例句：
She had the stereo on at full blast.她把立体声音响开到了最大音量。
This program is being broadcast in stereo.这个节目正用立体声播放。
