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A longtime nanny reveals what she learned after having her own baby
一個(gè)長期保姆生子后的感悟
When I became pregnant last year, I realized my story was about to change.
去年我懷孕了，我意識到我的人生經(jīng)歷即將發(fā)生改變。
Childcare has been my profession and my passion since I was a teenager. Over my years as a nanny and baby nurse in the United States and Britain, I’ve cared for dozens of kids and advised hundreds of parents. Last year, spurred on by encouragement from former clients and questions from their friends, I even published a book on the philosophy and techniques that have proven best. But until recently, I wasn’t sure I’d ever have a child of my own.
從十幾歲起，保姆就是我的職業(yè)，我熱愛這一職業(yè)。在英美兩國作為保姆和母嬰護(hù)理的這些年，我照看了幾十個(gè)孩子，并為數(shù)以百計(jì)的父母提供咨詢服務(wù)。去年，通過之前客戶的鼓勵(lì)，受到其朋友詢問的驅(qū)使，我還出版了一本已證實(shí)為最佳育兒哲學(xué)與技能的書。然而，直到最近，我還不確定我將有一個(gè)自己的孩子。
More than a few parents looked at me askance when informed of my childless state. Some even asked, or wrote in anonymous comments, “How can you really know all of this if you’re not a parent?”
一些父母在得知我還沒有孩子時(shí)，總是用質(zhì)疑的目光看著我。有些甚至問道，或在匿名評論中寫道，“如果你還不是母親，你是怎么知道這些育兒知識的？”
When I became pregnant last year, I realized my story was about to change.
去年我懷孕了，我意識到我的人生經(jīng)歷即將發(fā)生改變。
Everyone talks about pregnancy as having this great glow about it. My pregnancy, however, was tough. I felt guilty for not enjoying it the way I’d imagined I would — and for not being sympathetic enough to the travails of my clients in the past. I now think back on pregnant clients who preferred to stay in bed while I ran around with their toddlers. It used to mystify me, but now I realize it was necessary self-care. In fact, I wish I had done more to help them, even if it was just bringing them crackers. Exhausted and plagued with morning sickness, I myself couldn’t get out of bed some days without a handful of cheddar bunnies.
大家談起懷孕時(shí)，總是容光煥發(fā)。然而，我的孕期卻是艱難的。沒有以我想象的方式享受這一過程，過去沒有對客戶分娩的痛苦表象足夠的同情，我感到內(nèi)疚。現(xiàn)在想想，當(dāng)我?guī)е齻冔橎菍W(xué)步的孩子到處走動時(shí)，那些準(zhǔn)媽媽們寧愿躺在床上。過去我對她們這一行為總是迷惑不解，現(xiàn)在我才意識到，這是必須的自我調(diào)養(yǎng)。我真希望過去能多做一些事情幫助她們，即使僅僅幫她們拿一些餅干。每天早上醒來，筋疲力盡，嘔吐不止。有一段時(shí)間，如果不吃一些奶酪，我自己甚至難以下床。
The challenges of pregnancy ended when, around Christmastime, I welcomed a beautiful, healthy baby girl into the world. Ella has filled my heart in a way I didn’t think was possible — it’s all-consuming.
大約圣誕節(jié)時(shí)，我迎來了美麗健康的女兒。懷孕的痛苦終于結(jié)束。
So, though my advice to parents remains the same, it’s delivered in a softer voice — for I know firsthand just how tired those parents are, and how much they all just want to do what’s right for their children.
盡管我對父母的忠告仍然未變，交流的聲音卻更加溫和，因?yàn)椋矣H身經(jīng)歷過，作為父母多么疲憊，多么想要為自己的孩子做正確的事。
譯文屬可可英語原創(chuàng)，未經(jīng)允許，不得轉(zhuǎn)載。
