RaisingChildren(美式教养观)Thejobofraisingchildrenisatoughone.Childrendon'tcomewithaninstructionmanual.Andeachchildisdifferent.Soparentssometimespulltheirhairoutinfrustration,notknowingwhattodo.Butinraisingchildren-asinalloflife-whatwedoisinfluencedbyourculture.Naturallythen,AmericanparentsteachtheirchildrenbasicAmericanvalues.养育孩子是件伤脑筋的差事,孩子们并不是生下来就附有说明书的,而每个孩子又都不尽相同,所以有时候父母们真是挫折地扯光了头发,还不知该怎幺办。然而以教养孩子而言,就像生活中所有的事一样,我们的行为都受文化的影响,因此,美国父母很自然地会教导他们的孩子基本的美国价值观。ToAmericans,thegoalofparentsistohelpchildrenstandontheirowntwofeet.Frominfancy,eachchildmaygethisorherownroom.Aschildrengrow,theygainmorefreedomtomaketheirownchoices.Teenagerschoosetheirownformsofentertainment,aswellasthefriendstosharethemwith.Whentheyreachyoungadulthood,theychoosetheirowncareersandmarriagepartners.Ofcourse,manyyoungadultsstillseektheirparents'adviceandapprovalforthechoicestheymake.Butoncethey"leavethenest"ataround18to21yearsold,theywanttobeontheirown,not"tiedtotheirmother'sapronstrings."对美国人而言,教养的目标在于帮助孩子们自立更生。从婴幼儿期开始,每一个孩子都可能拥有自己的房间;随着孩子的成长,他们有更多机会自己作决定;青少年们选择自己喜欢的娱乐方式,以及跟什幺样的朋友一起玩;当他们进入了青年期之后,他们选择自己的事业和结婚伴侣。当然,很多的年轻人在作选择时,还是会寻求父母的忠告和赞同,但是当他们一旦在十八到二十一岁左右「离了巢」之后,就希望能够独立,不再是个离不开妈妈的孩子了。TherelationshipbetweenparentsandchildreninAmericaisveryinformal.Americanparentstrytotreattheirchildrenasindividuals-notasextensionsofthemselves.Theyallowthemtofulfilltheirowndreams.Americanspraiseandencouragetheirchildrentogivethemtheconfidencetosucceed.Whenchildrenbecomeadults,theirrelationshipwiththeirparentsbecomesmorelikeafriendshipamongequals.Butcontrarytopopularbelief,mostadultAmericansdon'tmaketheirparentspayforroomandboardwhentheycometovisit.Evenasadults,theyrespectandhonortheirparents.在美国,亲子之间的关系不是那么地严肃,美国父母们试着将孩子视为个体,而不是他们自我的延伸,他们允许孩子去实现自己的梦想。美国人会赞美并鼓励孩子以给予他们成功的信心。当孩子长大成人之后,亲子之间的关系会更像地位平等的朋友,可是与大家一向所以为的恰好相反,当父母来访时,大部份的美国成年人并不会要求父母付食宿费,因为就算已经成年,他们还是很敬重父母的。Mostyoungcoupleswithchildrenstrugglewiththeissueofchildcare.Mothershavetraditionallystayedhomewiththeirchildren.Inrecentyears,though,agrowingtrendistoputpreschoolersinadaycarecentersoMomcanwork.ManyAmericanshavestrongfeelingsaboutwhichtypeofarrangementisbest.Somearguethatattendingadaycarecentercanbeapositiveexperienceforchildren.Othersinsistthatmothersarethebestcaregiversforchildren.Anumberofwomenarenowleavingtheworkforcetobecomefull-timehomemakers.大部份有孩子的年轻夫妻们都为了养育孩子的问题而大伤脑筋。传统上,母亲们会和孩子待在家里,但是近几年来,把孩子放在幼儿园好让妈妈去工作的趋势渐长。对于哪一种安排才是最好的,许多美国人都有自己强烈的主张,有些人认为进幼儿园对孩子而言是很正向的经历,另一群人则坚持母亲是照顾孩子的最佳人选,许多的妇女现在也离开工作市场成为全职的家庭主妇。母来访时,大部份的美国成年人并不会要求父母付食宿费,因为就算已经成年,他们还是很敬重父母的。DiscipliningchildrenisanotherareathatAmericanparentshavedifferingopinionsabout.Manyparentsfeelthata...