Those Childhood Days

　　When you came into the world, she held you in her arms.

　　You thanked her by weeping your eyes out.

　　When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you.

　　You thanked her by crying all night long.

　　When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk.

　　You thanked her by running away when she called.

　　When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love.

　　You thanked her by tossing¹ your plate on the floor.

　　When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons.

　　You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.

　　When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays.

　　You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.

　　When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.

　　You thanked her by screaming, “I'm not going!”

　　When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.

　　You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window.

　　When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream.

　　You thanked her by dripping² it all over your lap.

　　When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons.

　　You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.

　　When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another.

　　You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

　　When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies.

　　You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.

　　When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows.

　　You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.

　　Those Teenage Years

　　When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming.

　　You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.

　　When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp.

　　You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.

　　When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug.

　　You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.

　　When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car.

　　You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.

　　When you were 17, she was expecting an important call.

　　You thanked her by being on the phone all night.

　　When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation.

　　You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.

　　Growing Old and Gray

　　When you were 19, she paid your college tuition³, drove you to campus⁴, carried your bags.

　　You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of your friends.

　　When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone.

　　You thanked her by saying, “It's none of your business.”

　　When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future.

　　You thanked her by saying, “I don't want to be like you.”

　　When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation.

　　You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.

　　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 fiance10 and asked about your plans for the future.

　　You thanked her by glaring⁵ and growling⁶, “Muuhh-ther, please!”

　　When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you.

　　You thanked her by moving halfway⁷ 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 birthday.

　　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 children.

　　And then one day she 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 tribute⁸ and show appreciation⁹ to the person called mom though some may not say it openly to their mother. There's no substitute¹⁰ for her. Cherish¹¹ every single moment. Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may not agree to our thoughts, she is still your mother!!! She will be there for you……to listen to your woes¹², your braggings, your frustrations¹³, etc. Ask yourself……have you put aside enough time for her, to listen to her “blues” of working in the kitchen, her tiredness? Be tactful, loving and still show her due respect though you may have a different view from hers. Once gone, only fond memories of the past and also regrets will be left.

　　Don't take for granted¹⁴ the things closest to your heart. Love her more than you love yourself. Life is meaningless without her ……

　　童年时光

　　你来到人世，她抱你在怀。

　　你报答她，哭得天昏地暗。

　　你1岁时，她为你哺乳，为你洗澡。

　　你报答她，哭了个通宵。

　　你2岁时，她教你走路。

　　你报答她，她一叫你就跑。

　　你3岁时，她满怀爱心为你备三餐。

　　你报答她，把盘子一抛摔在地。

　　你4岁时，她给你几支彩笔。

　　你报答她，把餐桌涂成大花脸。

　　你5岁时，节日里她盛妆打扮你。

　　你报答她，扑通一声摔进旁边一堆泥巴里。

　　你6岁时，她步行送你去上学。

　　你报答她，扯着嗓子叫：“我就是不去！”

　　你7岁时，她给你买来个棒球。

　　你报答她，把邻居的玻璃砸得稀里哗啦。

　　你8岁时，她递给你一支冰淇淋。

　　你报答她，膝盖上滴的全是它。

　　你9岁时，她掏钱让你学钢琴。

　　你报答她，从来不费心去练它。

　　你10岁时，她整天开车为你忙，从足球场到健身房，到一个又一个的生日会场。

　　你报答她，跳下车，头也不回背朝她。

　　你11岁，她带你和朋友去影院。

　　你报答她，请她坐到另一排。

　　你12岁，她警告你有些电视不要看。

　　你报答她，等她离开偏要看。

　　少年岁月

　　你13岁，她建议你把发型剪得体。

　　你报答她，对她连说没品味。

　　14岁时，她掏钱送你进夏令营。

　　你报答她，整月没有一封信。

　　15岁时，她下班回到家，期望有人拥抱她。

　　你报答她，把房门反锁不理她。

　　你16岁时，她手把手教你开她的车。

　　你报答她，逮着机会就玩车。

　　你17岁，她在等一个重要电话。

　　你报答她，电话粥煲了一通宵。

　　18岁你高中毕业时，她喜极而泣把泪洒。

　　你报答她，在外面聚会通宵达旦不回家。

　　成人、渐老

　　你19岁，大学学费她买单，扛着包开车送你到学校。

　　你报答她，在宿舍门外说再见，为的是不在朋友面前现大眼。

　　你20岁，她问你是否在约会。

　　你报答她，对她说，“这事不管不行吗！”

　　你21岁，她为你将来事业提建议。

　　你报答她，对她说，“我才不愿学你样！”

　　你22岁，大学毕业典礼上，她伸手把你紧拥抱。

　　你报答她，问她能否掏钱让你到欧洲逛一趟。

　　你23岁，她为你第一套公寓置家具。

　　你报答她，告诉朋友家具的模样丑。

　　你24岁，她遇到你的未婚夫，问你们将来何打算。

　　你报答她，对她怒目加咆哮，“妈……，得了吧，求你啦！”

　　你25岁，她花钱帮你筹办婚礼，哭诉深深爱着你。

　　你报答她，安家离她千万里。

　　你30岁，她打来电话为宝宝抚养提忠告。

　　你报答她，告诉她，“如今情况不同啦！”

　　你40岁，她打电话把醒提，亲戚的生日匆忘记。

　　你报答她，说你“实在忙得不用提。”

　　你50岁，她病倒需要你照顾。

　　你报答她，念叨父母成负担。

　　后来有一天，她悄悄地去了。

　　突然间，你该做未做的事，仿佛霹雳，在你耳边炸响。

　　“摇啊摇，摇我这个小宝宝，一夜到天亮。”

　　“摇摇篮的手啊……可以摇世界。”

　　让我们花一小会儿时间，对那个叫“妈”的人表示敬意，表达感谢，虽然有些人当着面说不出口。妈妈是不可替代的。珍惜与她在一起的每一时刻吧。虽然有时候，她可能不是我们最好的朋友，可能不同意我们的想法，但妈妈就是妈妈！！！她始终陪伴你身边，听你的伤心事，听你吹大牛，听你把沮丧倾诉……。扪心自问，你是否曾经抽出过足够的时间陪伴她，听她讲围着灶台转的“伤心事”，讲她也会疲劳？？？就算你与她意见不一，也要委婉，充满爱心，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，还有就是终生的遗憾。

　　不要以为，与你心最近，你就理所应得。

　　爱她，要甚于爱你自己。

　　生命中没有了她，将了无意义……

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