by Janie Emaus

As teenagers we live in a different world from our mothers, a world where mothers hang out on the peripheries¹. Of course, almost everyone has one; they are unavoidable annoyances².
作为孩子，我们生活在和母亲不同的世界里，生活在一个由母亲监控的世界里。当然，几乎每个人都有一个这样的世界，这是不可避免的烦恼。

Today, as I approach that edge, as I am the one with the teenage daughter, I look at my mother through different eyes. And I sometimes wish I could halt the years and stop her from growing older, stop her from repeating herself.
现在，当我也处在监控的位置上，当我也成为一个女孩的母亲时，我开始从另一个角度来看我的母亲。有时候，我希望自己能够让时间停止，让我的母亲不再变得衰老，让她不再一遍遍地唠叨。

We sit at my kitchen table as the sun designs a mosaic³ of light on the tile floor. My daughter, Anna, sits next to my mother.
我们坐在餐桌旁边，阳光照在地板上，形成马赛克状的光斑。我的女儿安娜就坐在我母亲旁边。

"When is Rick going to be here?" my mother asks, referring to my husband.
“瑞克什么时候来？”母亲问。瑞克是我的丈夫。

"I don't know, Mom," I answer patiently. "He'll be here for dinner."
“我不知道，妈妈，”我耐心地回答，“他会来这儿吃饭。”

I sigh and get up from the table. This is at least the tenth time she has asked that question in as many minutes.
我叹了口气，站起身来。不大一会工夫，她已经问了不下十遍了。

While my mother and daughter play Monopoly, I busy myself making a salad.
妈妈和女儿在玩强手棋，我则忙着做沙拉。

"Don't put in any onions," Mom says. "You know how Daddy hates onions."
“别放洋葱，”妈妈说，“你知道你爸爸有多讨厌洋葱。”

"Yes, Mom," I answer, shoving the scallions back into the fridge.
“好的，妈妈。”我回答道，顺手把洋葱又塞进冰箱。

I scrub off a carrot and chop it into bite-size pieces. I thrust the knife into the carrot with more force than is necessary. A slice falls onto the floor.
我洗干净一个胡罗卜，把它切成小块。我象撒气似的用力把刀刺进胡罗卜。有一片罗卜掉到了地上。