神奇的馈赠 DearMom
克丽斯汀·古尔德/ChristineGoold
Afterthirtyyears, , IfeelIhavelearnedmoreaboutyouintheshorttimesinceherbirththaninallmyyearsofgrowingupandbreakingaway.
AsIgoaboutmynewlifeofcaringforJana, Iconstantlywonder, howonearthdidyoudoit?You, whoraisednotone, nottwo, butsixchildren.I’mstillfeelingshockwavesfromthechangeandupheavalonechildhasmadeinmylife, andIknowthatwhatIhaveexperiencedsofarisonlyaglimpse, thebaresthint, ofallyouwentthroughraisingus.
“Youlearntosacrificewhenyouhavechildren.”, sacrificewasanecessaryvirtue, ’, butunfashionableanddownrightunappealingaswell.
Well, Mom, whatcanIsay?I’mlearning.
Lately, I’vebeguntolookonmotherhoodasaninitiationinto“reallife.”Idon’tthinkIrealizeduntilJana’sbirththatthelifeI’dledpreviously-relativelyfree, easy, , Iseemtohaveacquiredautomaticmembershipintoauniversalclubmadeupofuncertaintiesandvulnerabilities, limitationsanddifficulties, andsometimes, , theclubhasitsbenefits, too.
WhenJanawakesfromherafternoonnapand, sohappytoseeme, givesmeherradiantfull-facesmile, , whenJanadoessomethingparticularlycute, I’llglanceupatGary, .
WhenIholdJanaclosetomeandlookdowntoseemyhandtightacrossherchest, orwhenItuckablanketaroundherwhileshesleepsandtouchtheskinofhercheek, Iseeyourhands（thosehardworkinghandswiththeirsmoothovalnails, steadyandcapableandcaring）, asIpassthatloveontoJana.
, marvelingatthewheatcolorofherhair, thesupplenessofherskin, herperfecttinyredmouth, , ofloveandwonder, ofcareandluck, , whenIwashomeonavisitshortlyafterJana’sbirth.
