温馨夜读II PART2 11.A Mother’s Letter to a Son Starting Kindergarten

 

[00:00.40]11.A Mother’s Letter to a Son Starting Kindergarten

[00:05.73]Dear George,

[00:07.48]When your big brother and your little dog and I walked you up to school today, you had no idea how I was feeling.

[00:15.86]You were so excited, you had packed and unpacked¹ the washable markers and safety scissors in your backpack a dozen times.

[00:25.33]I am really going to miss those lazy mornings when we waved your brother and sister off to school. 

[00:31.76]I’d settle in with my coffee and newspaper, handing you the comics to color while you watched Sesame Street.

[00:38.95]Because you are my youngest, I had learned a few things by the time you came along. 

[00:44.50]I found out that the seemingly² endless days of babyhood are gone like lightning. 

[00:49.95]I blinked³, and your older siblings⁴ were setting off for school as eagerly as you did this morning.

[00:56.37]You didn’t go to preschool and I’m not exactly Maria Montessori. 

[01:01.05]I hope that doesn’t hold you back. 

[01:03.34]You learned numbers by helping⁵ me count the soda⁶ cans we returned to the store. 

[01:07.58]And you do a fine job of writing your name on the sidewalk in chalk, in capitals to make it look more important. 

[01:14.23]Just the other day, you asked me why I always call you “Honey” when we’re reading stories and “Bud” when you’re helping with chores. 

[01:22.61]My explanation of the difference between a cuddly⁷ mood and a matey one seemed to satisfy you.

[01:28.71]I have to admit that in my mind’s eye, an image of myself while you’re in school has developed. 

[01:36.23]I see myself updating all the photo albums and starting the novel I always wanted to write. 

[01:41.78]As the summer wound down and more frequent quarrels erupted between you and your siblings, I looked forward to today.

[01:48.53]And then this morning, I walked you to your classroom with a picture of the president on one wall and of Bambi on the opposite. 

[01:56.92]You found the coat hook⁸ with your name above it right away, and you gave me one of your characteristically fierce, too-tight hugs. 

[02:05.65]This time you were ready to let go before I was.

[02:09.04]Maybe someday you will deliver a kindergartner with your own wide-set eyes and sudden grin⁹ to the first day of school. 

[02:16.70]When you turn at the door to wave good-bye, he or she will be too deep in conversation with a new friend to notice.

[02:23.91]And then, you’ll know.

[02:26.10]Love, Mom

1 unpacked   

v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等）

参考例句：

• I unpacked my bags as soon as I arrived. 我一到达就打开行李，整理衣物。
• Our guide unpacked a picnic of ham sandwiches and offered us tea. 我们的导游打开装着火腿三明治的野餐盒，并给我们倒了些茶水。 来自辞典例句

2 seemingly   

adv.从表面上看起来，似乎是

参考例句：

• Seemingly,we can do nothing to prevent this from happening.我们似乎没有什么办法阻止这件事发生。
• For several seemingly interminable seconds no one spoke.有几秒钟没有人讲话，这几秒钟似乎十分漫长。

3 blinked   

眨眼睛( blink的过去式 )； 闪亮，闪烁

参考例句：

• He blinked in the bright sunlight. 他在强烈的阳光下直眨眼睛。
• The boy blinked up at me in some surprise. 那男孩有些吃惊地眨着眼看我。

4 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

7 cuddly   

adj.抱着很舒服的，可爱的

参考例句：

• The beautiful crib from Mom and Dad is so cuddly.爸爸妈妈送的漂亮婴儿床真舒服。
• You can't call a hedgehog cuddly.你不能说刺猬逗人喜爱。

8 hook   

vt.钩住；n.钩子，钩状物

参考例句：

• The blacksmith forged a bar of iron into a hook.铁匠把一根铁条锻造成一个钩子。
• He hangs up his scarf on the hook behind the door.他把围巾挂在门后的衣钩上。

9 grin   

n./vi.露齿而笑，咧嘴一笑

参考例句：

• I know she is joking because she has a big grin on her face.我知道她是在开玩笑。因为她满脸笑容。
• She came out of his office with a big grin on her face.她笑容满面地走出他的办公室。