孩子有一年暑假參加一個Vacation Bible School時候拿回家的一個“十誡”,讀來很有啟發(fā),有很多方面我都沒有做到,應該好好學習。我還翻譯了出來,供其他家長借鑒:
A Child’s Ten Commandments to Parents
父母十戒
1. My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make my bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.
我的手還小,我鋪床、畫畫、扔球的時候,請您不要求全責備。我的腿比您短,請您走慢些,好讓我能跟上。
2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely; don’t restrict me unnecessarily.
我還沒有像您一樣見多識廣,在安全的前提下,請讓我去去大膽探索,不要到處限制。
3. Housework and money will always be there. I’m only little for such a short time-please take the time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and do so willingly.
家務活是做不完的,錢是掙不完的,而我的童年這么短暫,能否花點時間和我在一起,跟我講述這個世界的奧妙。
4. My feelings are tender, please be sensitive. Don’t nag me all day long. (You wouldn’t want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated.
我的感情十分稚嫩,請對我的需要保持敏感,不要成天跟我數落嘮叨。(我也不會對您的再三問詢感到厭煩。)己所不欲,勿施于人。
5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as my Creator intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.
我是上帝賜給您的特別禮物,請像造物主所希望的那樣,好好珍惜我,幫助我對我的行為負責,教我如何做人,我做錯事情的時候,帶著愛心管教我。
6. I need your encouragement to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
我需要您的鼓勵。批評我的時候,請注意您的方式。您批評的時候,可以對事不對人。
7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my own mistakes. Then someday I will be prepared to make the kind of decisions life will require of me.
請允許我為自己做主。允許我犯錯誤,好讓我能從自己的錯誤中得到學習,這樣將來有一天,我就可以為自己的生活做出決定。
8. Please don’t do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn’t quite measure to your expectations. I know it’s hard, but please don’t try to compare me to my brother or sister or other kids.
不要事事替我代勞。要是您這樣的話,我會覺得您看不上我所做的一切。我知道這很難,可是請不要拿我跟我的哥哥姐姐或其他小孩去比。
9. Please don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need a vacation from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
如果有需要,你們二位可以一起去找個別的地方度周末。父母可以給孩子放假,孩子也可以給父母放假。你們一起度假,也可以讓我們看到你們的婚姻何等寶貴。
10. Please set a good example for me to follow in all the ways of life. I enjoy watching the things you do and want to do them just like you do.
在生活的各個方面,都給我樹立榜樣。我喜歡看著您的一言一行,我會處處模仿。