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 wished for your child to hurry and grow up.

當你的孩子是個嬰兒時，你所記得的，是你對自己創造出的堪稱完美奇跡的作品，感到不可思議的敬畏。你記得你有大量的時間去傳授你所有的智慧和知識。你多希望你的孩子快快長大。

All you remember about your child being two is never using the restroom alone or getting to watch a movie without talking animals. 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.

孩子兩歲時，你所記得的，是從不能獨自使用衛生間，從不看一部與動物無關的電影。你記得你擔心那袋M&M巧克力糖會在你的衣兜里融化，毀了你體面的衣服。你多希望你的孩子更獨立些。

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 ,you remember being asked "Is Santa real?" and saying "yes", because he had to be for a little bit longer.

孩子5歲時，你所記得的，是他上學第一天你終于獨自擁有整個房子了。你記得參加家長與教師聯系會，你記得孩子問你“圣誕老人是真的嗎?”你回答“是的”，因為他還需要你的肯定回答，盡管不久他就能自己判斷了。

All you remember about your child being seven is the carpooi schedule. 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.

孩子7歲時，你所記得的，是合伙用車的時間安排。你想過把你的車子漆成黃色，并在車庫門旁的草坪上立一個“出租車”的標志牌。你記得有幾次你下車后，人們盯著你，因為你不斷用腳踩油門加速，制造噪音。你多希望孩子有一天能學會開車。

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.

孩子12歲時，你所記得的，是孩子在體育場打棒球練習賽時，你坐在看臺上希望你孩子所在的隊很快三擊不中出局，因為家里還有更重要的事等你去做。教練不明白你為什么那么忙。你多希望棒球賽季能盡快結束。

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.

孩子14歲時，你所記得的，是他不讓你早晨把汽車停在校門口。你不得不開過兩個街區，車還沒停穩就趕緊打開車門。你記得沒能在他的朋友面前跟他吻別或說話。你多希望孩子能更成熟些。

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.

孩子16歲時，你所記得的，是吵鬧的音樂和以富有節奏的拍子尖聲唱出的難以聽懂的歌詞。你多希望孩子快點長大成人，帶著音響離開家吧。

All you remember about your child being eighteen is the day they were born and having all the time in the world.

孩子18歲時，你所記得的，是他們出生的那一天，擁有世間所有的時光。

And, as you walk through your quiet house, you wonder where they went and you wish your child hadn’t grown up so fast.

當你在靜靜的房子里走來走去時納悶他們去哪里了一一你多希望孩子別這么快就長大了。