你什么时候意识到你的孩子不再是个孩子了？

When did you realize your child was no longer a child?

你什么时候意识到你的孩子不再是个孩子了？

Eileen Rioux
We arranged a trip to scatter my father's ashes in Aravaipa canyon, a remote area in Arizona that requires visitors to request a permit. My BIL rented a large van so we could all travel together. The group included me, my husband, my two sons (maybe 10 and 15 at the time) my sister and BIL, my two nephews (aprx 19 and 22) and my mother.

我们安排了一次旅行，将我父亲的骨灰撒在亚利桑那州的阿拉瓦伊帕峡谷，这是一个偏远地区，游客需要申请许可证。我的姐夫租了一辆大型货车，以便我们能够一起旅行。团队包括我、我的丈夫、我的两个儿子（当时大约10岁和15岁）、我的姐姐和姐夫、我的两个侄子（大约19岁和22岁）以及我的母亲。

Despite my emphasizing that the drive includes crossing shallow running water, and if course mud, I think it was wetter than some of them were expecting.

尽管我强调了这段路程包括穿越浅滩流水，当然还有泥泞，但我觉得这比他们中的一些人预想的要更湿。

We were walking in the river in a strung out line, me, my sons and my mom a fair amount ahead of my nephews who were a bit ahead of their parents. My son was carrying a backpack full of sandwich supplies and everyone had their own baggie of ashes.

我们沿着河边走成一条线，我、我的儿子们和我的妈妈走在前面，离我的侄子们有一段距离，而侄子们又比他们的父母稍微靠前。我儿子背着一个装满三明治材料的背包，每个人都拿着自己的一小袋骨灰。

Suddenly we heard a scream. My thoughts went to ‘someone is being attacked by an animal’ then, ‘someone fell off a cliff’. My oldest dropped the backpack and took off running to help, shouting for us to stay where we were. I tried to pick up the pack but it was too heavy for me to lift .

突然我们听到了一声尖叫。我的思绪先是‘有人被动物袭击了’，然后是‘有人从悬崖上掉下去了’。我的大儿子扔下背包，跑过去帮忙，并喊我们待在原地。我试图捡起背包，但它太重了，我提不起来。

When I got back to the group I found my younger nephew had fainted face first in to the water and stopped breathing. It was his father, my BIL, who screamed when he e found him.

当我回到团队时，我发现我的小侄子脸朝下晕倒在水里，停止了呼吸。是他的父亲，也就是我的姐夫，在发现他时尖叫了起来。

Later we would find out my nephew had stayed up all night gaming and started his day with energy drinks and stomach medicine. When he passed out, his face hit the cold water triggering the 
divers reflex which stopped his breathing temporarily.

后来我们会发现，我的侄子整晚都在玩游戏，并以能量饮料和胃药开始他的一天。当他昏倒时，他的脸碰到了冷水，触发了潜水反射，暂时停止了他的呼吸。

Anyway, I got back to the group to find my son and husband taking charge of the situation. He helped get him back to the van where my BIL asked my husband to drive as he was still very shaken and my nephew was still not fully conscious.

无论如何，我回到小组时发现我的儿子和丈夫正在掌控局面。他帮助把他带回了面包车，在那里我的姐夫请求我丈夫开车，因为他仍然非常震惊，而我的侄子还没有完全恢复意识。

We stood outside as my husband started the van as it was mired in the mud . As the wheels spun unproductivity my son darted forward to throw something under the wheels so the could gain traction. I wanted to stop him but I knew it would be dangerous to distract him and he had it under control.

我们站在外面，我丈夫启动了陷入泥中的货车。当车轮徒劳地旋转时，我儿子迅速冲上前去，往车轮下扔了些东西，以便车轮能获得牵引力。我想阻止他，但我知道分散他的注意力会很危险，而且他控制得很好。

We all jumped in and drove out to find a cell signal. My older nephew somewhat bungled the 911 call triggering a helicopter ride that was an overreaction.

我们都跳上车，开出去寻找手机信号。我的大侄子有点搞砸了911电话，结果引发了一次直升机出动，这有点反应过度了。

This was the moment I realized my son was basically a grown man, and everyone had treated him as so during the emergency.

这一刻我意识到，我的儿子基本上已经是个成年人了，在紧急情况下，每个人都这样对待他。

When my son was in the eighth grade, he got suspended and I had to leave work early to go get him. When I got there, I asked the principal what had happened. The principal explained that my son had beaten up three other boys and even broke one boy's wrist. I was obviously horrified and asked my son what the fuck he was thinking. He simply told me that the boys had cornered one of his friends and were trying to make her strip for them. Being the chivalrous boy I raised him to be, he put a stop to it. I asked the principal if it was true and he dodged the question. In response to that, I told the school that if they're going to allow sexual harassment, I didn't want my child to attend and took him home. I told my son that I was going to take him out of public schools. He replied by telling me that he didn't want to leave the school because of he wasn't there then who was going to stop it from happening again.

当我儿子上八年级时，他被停学了，我不得不提前下班去接他。到了学校后，我问校长发生了什么事。校长解释说，我儿子打了另外三个男孩，甚至弄断了一个男孩的手腕。我显然很震惊，问我儿子他到底在想什么。他只是告诉我，那些男孩把他朋友逼到角落，试图让她脱衣服。作为我培养的骑士精神的男孩，他阻止了这件事。我问校长这是否属实，他回避了这个问题。作为回应，我告诉学校，如果他们允许性骚扰，我不想让我的孩子继续在这里上学，并带他回家了。我告诉我儿子，我要把他从公立学校带走。他回答说，他不想离开学校，因为如果他不在了，谁来阻止这种事情再次发生。

This is when I realized my little boy had become a man. He would rather get in trouble to protect a friend than stay out of the spotlight and potentially face long term consequences.

这时我意识到我的小男孩已经成长为一个男人。他宁愿惹上麻烦也要保护朋友，而不是避开聚光灯，可能面临长期的后果。

Edit: I feel the need to point out that my son also got his ass kicked (and to be frank, “beat up” was probably the wrong term to use [a bit exaggerated] when describing what he did to those three boys). I assumed that was implied, but oh well. What can you do? The police were called and the bullies' parents didn't press charges as long as the girl's parents didn't either. The school penalized all three boys and the girl's mother and I are very close friends now.

编辑：我觉得有必要指出，我儿子也被打了（说实话，用“打”这个词来形容他对那三个男孩的行为可能有点夸张了）。我原以为这是不言而喻的，但好吧，能怎么办呢？警察被叫来了，霸凌者的父母没有提出指控，只要女孩的父母也不追究。学校处罚了那三个男孩，现在我和女孩的母亲成了非常亲密的朋友。

Al V
My 10-year-old son and I walked together to the high school football game 5 or 6 blocks from home. When we were a block away he said, “Can you just give me the money for the ticket and I’ll get it myself.” I instinctively knew that he wanted his independence and did not want anyone (especially his friends) to see him come in with his dad. I gladly handed him the money with a smile but also with the awareness that things would never be the same. Sadness and joy all mixed together. P.S. He did manage to find me at halftime for concession money.

我和我10岁的儿子一起步行到家附近五六条街区外的高中橄榄球比赛。当我们离场地还有一个街区时，他说：“你能直接把票钱给我吗？我自己去买。”我本能地意识到他想要独立，不想让任何人（尤其是他的朋友）看到他和他爸爸一起进场。我微笑着高兴地把钱递给了他，但同时也意识到事情将不再一样。悲伤和喜悦交织在一起。附注：他确实在中场休息时找到了我，要了买零食的钱。

Tori Walker
He was 12 at the time. I had given him a 6pm curfew. He needed to be home to eat dinner and do his homework. I understood that he biked home after school and hung out at his friend's house, which is about a half block away. So one day he was late. It's 6:15 and no son. I'm upset and worried.

他当时12岁。我规定他晚上6点必须回家。他需要回家吃晚饭并做作业。我知道他放学后骑车回家，然后在他朋友家玩，朋友家大约半个街区远。所以有一天他迟到了。已经6点15分了，儿子还没回来。我既生气又担心。

He comes home and tells me that their friend, Jenny * had come over to play Mario Kart with them, and he wanted to walk her back to her house because it was getting late. So he walked his bike next to her and walked her to her door before he came home.

他回到家告诉我，他们的朋友珍妮*过来和他们一起玩马里奥赛车，因为天色已晚，他想送她回家。所以他推着自行车陪她走到她家门口，然后才回家。

I admit, I was a bit skeptical. I let it go with a "be home on time tomorrow". As excuses go, that was a damn good one, so a little pass was given. I half believed him, but didn't really think that was the reason. I was wrong.

我承认，我有点怀疑。我只是说了句“明天准时回家”就放他走了。就借口而言，那是个相当不错的借口，所以我稍微放了他一马。我半信半疑，但并没有真的认为那是原因。我错了。

Her mom called me the next day and thanked me. She was nervous about letting her daughter hang out with BOYS. She thanked me for my son walking her daughter home. That is when I realized that he had become a young man. Who can weigh decisions. Worried mom, or walk a younger, smaller person home safe.

她妈妈第二天打电话给我并向我道谢。她对于让女儿和男孩们一起出去玩感到紧张。她感谢我儿子送她女儿回家。那时我意识到他已经成为一个年轻人了，能够权衡决定。是让担心的妈妈放心，还是安全地送一个更小、更年幼的人回家。

He's almost 14 now, and has earned my trust. When Jenny hangs out, he makes sure he walks her home. She lives about 3 blocks away. Her mom and I have become friends. Unknown to him, she texts me when he drops her off. She's his friend. Even when he was "dating" someone else, he would still make sure she got home safe.

他现在快14岁了，已经赢得了我的信任。当珍妮出去玩时，他会确保送她回家。她住的地方大约有三个街区远。她的妈妈和我已经成了朋友。他不知道的是，每次他送她回家后，她都会给我发短信。她是他的朋友。即使他在‘约会’别人时，他仍然会确保她安全到家。

I'm not saying it right. She's one of the guys. A friend. She just lives a few blocks over. As a woman who was once the girl who was one of the guys, I get it. I like her. She's a good friend to him.

我没说对。她是哥们儿之一。一个朋友。她就住在几个街区之外。作为一个曾经也是“哥们儿”之一的女孩，我理解。我喜欢她。她对他来说是个好朋友。

My son, as the one who looks out for her? That's not a kid’s decision. That's a young man that I am proud of. I got him a cell phone so it's not the same now, but I remember that night when he told me that he was just making sure his friend got home safe. Then getting the phone call thanking me. That's when I knew, I had a young man, not a little boy.

我的儿子，作为照顾她的人？这不是一个孩子的决定。这是一个让我感到骄傲的年轻人。我给他买了一部手机，所以现在情况不同了，但我记得那天晚上他告诉我，他只是确保他的朋友安全到家。然后接到电话感谢我。那时我知道，我有一个年轻人，而不是一个小男孩。

her name has been changed.

她的名字已被更改。

Michelle Alamo
I was a legal secretary working in a NYC midtown office and my husband was a law librarian at a different firm not far from mine. We had just moved from the Bronx and bought a house in New Jersey a year before. We moved into our house in July. My daughter was 3 going on 4 years old and my son had just turned 11 (the whole family are summer babies). That first summer my mom came to stay with us to watch our kids, then went back to her home in the Bronx when school started. We put our daughter in a daycare after my mom left and, since my son was 11 years old and there was a middle school right around our block, I decided to let him stay on his own as long as he went straight home right after school and not leave or have friends over until we got home from work, which was around 6:00 p.m. Even though I trusted him, he goofed off with not getting his homework done. Even though I told him to get it done by the time we got home, he would just watch tv. We couldn’t afford to pay for both of them to get watched, so I let him continue staying on his own.

我曾是纽约市中城一家律师事务所的法律秘书，我丈夫在离我不远的另一家律师事务所担任法律图书管理员。我们刚从布朗克斯搬来，一年前在新泽西买了一栋房子。我们在七月搬进了新家。我女儿当时3岁，快4岁了，儿子刚满11岁（全家都是夏天出生的）。那个夏天，我妈妈来和我们住在一起，帮忙照看孩子，开学后她就回到了她在布朗克斯的家。妈妈离开后，我们把女儿送去了日托中心，而儿子已经11岁了，我们家附近就有一所中学，所以我决定让他自己待在家里，只要他放学后直接回家，不离开家或让朋友来玩，直到我们下班回家，大约在下午6点。尽管我信任他，但他还是偷懒，没有完成作业。尽管我告诉他要在我们回家前完成作业，他还是只看电视。我们负担不起同时照看他们两个的费用，所以我让他继续自己待在家里。

The following summer my mom stayed over again to watch my kids and then went back to her house after school started. By that time my kids were ages 12 and 5. Then, one beautiful Tuesday morning I walked from the Port Authority bus station to the lobby of my office building and as I waited for the elevator I heard one of my co-workers saying a plane had just crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings. To everyone who has read my answer this far, I’m sure you all know the day I am speaking of was September 11, 2001.

接下来的夏天，我妈妈再次过来照看我的孩子们，然后在学校开学后回到了她自己的家。那时，我的孩子们分别是12岁和5岁。然后，在一个美丽的周二早晨，我从港务局巴士站步行到我办公大楼的大厅，当我等电梯时，听到一位同事说一架飞机刚刚撞上了世贸中心的一栋大楼。对于读到这里的每个人，我相信你们都知道我说的那天是2001年9月11日。

As soon as I got off the elevator, I rushed to my desk and turned on my radio…all the attorneys and other co-workers surrounded me as we all listened to the horror and disbelief unfolding on that terrible day. First, One World Trade Center got hit, then soon after we heard the newscaster saying another plane crashed into the second World Trade Center building. Then another plane crashed into the Pentagon building, then again another plane getting hijacked, though that one crashed into an empty field in Pennsylvania. We were all wondering when it will ever stop. Then the worst news out of it all came on when the newscaster said that One World Trade Center was crashing to the ground. Then again the second building crashing down. We were all in shock and crying, knowing almost 3,000 people in those buildings were killed within minutes. I was panicking trying to call my children to no avail since all the phonelines were jammed and no one could get through.

我一出电梯就冲向我的办公桌，打开了收音机……所有的律师和其他同事都围在我身边，我们一起听着那个可怕的日子发生的恐怖和难以置信的事件。首先，世贸中心一号楼被撞击，然后不久我们听到新闻播音员说另一架飞机撞上了世贸中心二号楼。接着，另一架飞机撞上了五角大楼，然后又有一架飞机被劫持，尽管那架飞机最终坠毁在宾夕法尼亚州的一片空地上。我们都在想这一切何时才能结束。然后，最糟糕的消息传来，新闻播音员说世贸中心一号楼正在倒塌。接着，第二座大楼也倒塌了。我们都震惊不已，哭泣着，知道那几分钟内几乎有3000人在那些大楼中丧生。我惊慌失措地试图打电话给我的孩子们，但毫无用处，因为所有的电话线路都堵塞了，没有人能打通。

I finally ran out to try to get home, but all the public transportation stopped running and I had no idea how to get back to New Jersey. Then I thought of my husband. Since his building was not far from mine, I walked there to meet him. We left together trying to figure out how to get home to our kids. We decided to see if the ferry going to New Jersey was working. We walked more than 50 blocks downtown and, fortunately, we were able to see they were taking passengers. We waited on line for two hours to finally board. The ferry crossed the Hudson River as we all watched fixated looking at that huge, ugly, black mushroom shaped gas lingering right above where the World Trade Center had once stood. When we finally got to New Jersey, we had to take two long bus rides to a train station and transferred to three different trains before we got to get off a train in a town closest to ours. Once again we walked about another mile to finally get to our car. It took us more than 5 hours to get to our car where my husband always parked right by the daycare, but when we got there we saw a sign saying the daycare was closed! I got hysterical, but my husband tried to calm me down and told me to go home and see if the kids were there. When we got there we saw a note on the door telling us that he was in his friend’s house across the street from us. As soon as we got to his house I saw both our kids standing in my neighbor’s livingroom. I was so relieved I ran right to them and hugged them so tight I didn’t want to let them go. When I finally released them, my neighbor told me that my son went to her house right after the school let them out and asked if she could drive him over to the daycare to pick up his little sister.

我终于跑出去想回家，但所有的公共交通都停运了，我不知道怎么回新泽西。然后我想到了我丈夫。因为他的办公楼离我的不远，我就走过去找他。我们一起离开，试图想办法回家看我们的孩子。我们决定看看去新泽西的渡轮是否还在运行。我们在市中心走了50多个街区，幸运的是，我们看到他们还在载客。我们排队等了两个小时才终于上了船。渡轮穿过哈德逊河时，我们都目不转睛地看着那个巨大、丑陋、黑色的蘑菇形气体，它正悬浮在世贸中心曾经矗立的地方上方。当我们终于到达新泽西时，我们不得不乘坐两趟长途巴士到火车站，然后换乘了三趟不同的火车，才在我们家附近的一个小镇下了火车。我们又走了一英里左右，终于到了我们的车。我们花了五个多小时才到车那里，我丈夫总是把车停在日托中心旁边，但当我们到达时，我们看到一个牌子说日托中心关门了！我变得歇斯底里，但我丈夫试图让我冷静下来，告诉我要回家看看孩子们是否在那里。当我们到家时，我们看到门上有一张纸条，告诉我们他在我们街对面的朋友家里。我们一到他家，我就看到我们的两个孩子站在我邻居的客厅里。我如释重负，立刻跑过去紧紧抱住他们，不想放手。当我终于放开他们时，我邻居告诉我，我儿子放学后直接去了她家，问她是否可以开车带他去日托中心接他的妹妹。

It was on that horrible, unforgettable day that will forever be one of the worst days in American history that I discovered my son became a responsible young man. I was never more proud and grateful to have a son like him.

在那个可怕、难忘的日子，那将永远是美国历史上最糟糕的日子之一，我发现我的儿子成为了一个负责任的年轻人。我从未如此自豪和感激拥有像他这样的儿子。

He enlisted into the Marine Reserves right after he graduated from high school, spent a semester in a community college when they called him in and deployed him to Iraq. He spent 9 months during that seemingly unending war when he came back. He spent 8 years in the Marines till he was honorably discharged then he joined the Army where he still is today. He was a truck driver when he was in the Marines, but he didn’t like it. Now he’s a Sergeant in the Army and is doing journalism which he’s much happier with. He intends on staying at least up to 20 years to get his full pension. I’m so very proud to call him my son.

他高中毕业后立即加入了海军陆战队预备役，在社区大学读了一个学期后，他们召他入伍并派遣他到伊拉克。在那场看似无休止的战争中，他在那里度过了9个月，然后回国。他在海军陆战队服役了8年，直到光荣退役，之后他加入了陆军，至今仍在服役。他在海军陆战队时是一名卡车司机，但他并不喜欢这份工作。现在他是陆军的一名中士，从事新闻工作，对此他感到更加快乐。他打算至少服役20年以获得全额养老金。我非常自豪能称他为我的儿子。

My daughter graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and is now working full time at an administrative position while taking graduate classes to become a theater teacher. She also does part time work as a teacher’s assistant. She’s always on the go, but (as I tell her) at least I get to see her whenever she comes over to visit my washer & dryer (hee hee). My two kids are great!

我的女儿以最优等成绩获得了美术学士学位，现在在一份行政职位上全职工作，同时还在上研究生课程，以成为一名戏剧老师。她还兼职做助教。她总是忙个不停，但（正如我告诉她的）至少她每次来我家用我的洗衣机和烘干机时，我都能见到她（嘿嘿）。我的两个孩子都很棒！

Ayala Choma
She was about 13. My late husband, her father, was hospitalized but not in any great danger. We spent the first day of Passover in the hospital with him, which was a pretty miserable experiance. When the last day of Passover came around and he was still not home, I was going to take a double occupancy room for us in the hotel near the hospital where we had slept. “Single room.” she told me. “I’ve made other arrangements for myself.” I asked to know what the arrangements were. She reeled them off. She was invited to a different girlfriend for each meal. She was going with still another to synagogue. Two more were going to sleep over at our place so she wouldn’t feel alone. She had cooked some dish to bring with her to one of the meals where she felt that was appropriate. (And had cleaned up so well that I hadn’t noticed.) I was stunned by the quiet competence. But I was a bit worried about how her father would take it until she said. “I told Aba I would come next time and give you a break. He’s okay with it.”

她大约13岁。我已故的丈夫，她的父亲，当时住院了，但并没有太大的危险。我们在医院和他一起度过了逾越节的第一天，那是一次相当糟糕的经历。当逾越节的最后一天到来时，他仍然没有回家，我打算在医院附近的酒店为我们预订一间双人房，我们之前曾在那里过夜。“单人间。”她告诉我。“我已经为自己做了其他安排。”我询问她安排了什么。她一一列举出来。她受邀在不同的女友家吃每一顿饭。她还要和另一个朋友一起去犹太教堂。还有两个朋友要来我们家过夜，这样她就不会感到孤单。她还为其中一顿饭准备了一道菜，觉得带过去很合适。（而且她收拾得如此干净，我都没有注意到。）我被她那安静的能力惊呆了。但我有点担心她父亲会怎么想，直到她说：“我告诉阿爸我下次会来，给你一个休息的机会。他对此没有意见。”

My mother is a diabetic, type 2 if you’re at all interested. We were coming home from a day out and she was driving home with my 2 sons in the car with her. My husband, sister, daughter and myself were in our car following. As she approached a slip road, a left hand drive lorry(semi) pulled out, side swiped her and forced her on to the hard shoulder. The front wing was crumpled and the front passenger door was buckled. Luckily no one was hurt, but the car was a goner.

我的母亲是一名2型糖尿病患者，如果你感兴趣的话。我们一天外出后回家，她开车带着我的两个儿子。我的丈夫、姐姐、女儿和我则坐在我们的车里跟在后面。当她接近一个匝道时，一辆左舵的卡车（半挂车）突然驶出，侧面擦撞了她，迫使她驶入紧急停车带。前翼子板被撞皱，前乘客门也变形了。幸运的是没有人受伤，但车子报废了。

We called the insurance people, the lorry had carried on but Mum had a partial number plate. Obviously, we had a problem. 7 people, room for 5 in the car.

我们联系了保险公司，卡车已经开走了，但妈妈记下了部分车牌号。显然，我们遇到了问题。7个人，车里只能坐5个人。

I told my husband, “take the kids and Sis home, I’ll stay with Mum.”

我告诉我的丈夫，“带孩子们和妹妹回家，我会留下来陪妈妈。”

It was then that my eldest son, my quiet ten year old shy boy, stepped forward. He looked in to my eyes and announced “Ladies don’t stand about in the dark without anyone there. That’s a MAN’S job. I’M staying with my grandma! Dad, please take my mammy, my auntie and my sister home. Grandma will be alright. She has ME!”

就在那时，我那年仅十岁、安静害羞的大儿子走上前来。他直视着我的眼睛，宣布道：“女士们不应该在没有人的黑暗中站着。那是男人的工作。我要和奶奶在一起！爸爸，请带妈妈、姑姑和妹妹回家。奶奶会没事的。她有我在！”

He simply would not take no for an answer, we refused to leave him so waited with them, and once the tow truck arrived he got in to it saying “Ok, we’re safe. Daddy take everyone home please. Grandma is safe, I’M staying with her!”

他就是不肯接受拒绝的答案，我们拒绝离开他，所以和他们一起等待，一旦拖车到达，他就上了车，说：“好了，我们安全了。爸爸，请带大家回家。奶奶安全了，我要和她在一起！”

He is now a tall and handsome 17 year old, and he still protects his grandma like she was the crown jewels. Grandma wants, my son gets it for her. We went on holiday to Norfolk, he spent his time chilling out with his grandma and looking after her. His choice.

他现在是一个高大英俊的17岁少年，仍然像保护皇冠上的珠宝一样保护着他的奶奶。奶奶想要什么，我的儿子就会为她得到。我们去诺福克度假时，他把时间都花在陪伴和照顾奶奶上。这是他的选择。

He’s an amazing man, and I am proud he is my son.

他是一个了不起的人，我为他是我儿子感到自豪。

Katy Morris
My daughter was about 12 and had never been away from home really for more than a day. Then she was invited to get on an airplane and fly from Seattle to Florida to spend like 6 weeks with her best friend. She cried her little heart out getting on the plane because she was so terrified. The airline stewardess let her serve drinks and she had a good flight. She called me every night crying being homesick and because her best friend wasn't as much of a night owl as my daughter. I told her I'd try to get her a flight home but she seemed content with just calling every night and crying a bit.. after about 4 weeks the calls slowed down. By the time she came home she had not only grown about 4 inches but also just looked and acted so much more mature. She's now 22 and I still tell her that that was the day my baby grew up. She's flown many times as an adult now including back to Florida about 4 times. Most recently was the week before Christmas this year.

我的女儿大约12岁，之前从未真正离开家超过一天。后来她被邀请乘坐飞机从西雅图飞往佛罗里达，和她最好的朋友一起度过大约6周的时间。登机时她哭得很伤心，因为她非常害怕。空乘人员让她帮忙分发饮料，她度过了一个愉快的飞行。她每晚都给我打电话，因为想家和她的好朋友不像她那样是夜猫子而哭泣。我告诉她我会尽量安排她回家，但她似乎满足于每晚打电话并哭一会儿。大约4周后，电话逐渐减少了。当她回家时，她不仅长高了大约4英寸，而且看起来和表现得更加成熟。她现在22岁了，我仍然告诉她，那是我的宝贝长大的那一天。成年后她已经飞了很多次，包括回到佛罗里达大约4次。最近一次是在今年圣诞节前一周。

Judy Mitchell
My youngest is five years younger than her siblings and when her older siblings attended a martial arts school she started also at age 3 and attended all throughout high school. anyway when she was in 9th grade she decided to do color guard for our marching band. I did not attend the first football game but received a phone call from the principal and band instructor asking me to come to the school asap my daughter needed picked up. I get there and my daughter had a sprained wrist I asked what happened. Apparently one of the girls was dating a football player and he caught the girlfriend texting someone on her cellphone and smacked the girl my daughter saw it sent the girl inside the bathroom and physically put herself between the boy and the bathroom door told him he wasn’t getting inside and he laughed and told her he was a football player and much bigger than my daughter. To which apparently my daughter advised him size didn’t matter and if he thought he’d get away with smacking her the way he did his girlfriend he was welcome to try but she wouldn’t advise it. The boy approached while trying to throw a punch my daughter managed to sidestep and used some of her martial arts to bring the boy to his knees he did manage to grab her arm and twist her wrist causing the sprain before three nearby guys caught and held him until school staff managed to intervene. My daughter kept herself positioned to make sure no one got into the bathroom until the football player was hauled away by the coach. At that point she allowed herself to be treated and had the school call me. She looked at me and told me I’m probably going to be suspended for this but I’d do it again. Fortunately the school did have surveillance cameras that caught him throwing the punch at my daughter so they decided she wouldn’t be suspended but the fact that she knew she could be and still said she’d do it again made me realize she was ready accept a more adult role. Don’t get me wrong there were plenty of times in the rest of her growing up years that she still was a kid but that was the first moment I realized how grown she was.

我最小的孩子比她的兄弟姐妹小五岁，当她的哥哥姐姐们去上武术学校时，她也在三岁时开始学习，并一直持续到高中。无论如何，当她上九年级时，她决定为我们学校的行进乐队做旗手。我没有参加第一场足球比赛，但接到了校长和乐队指导老师的电话，要求我尽快到学校接我的女儿。我到达那里时，发现我女儿的手腕扭伤了，我问发生了什么事。显然，其中一个女孩正在和一个足球运动员约会，他抓到女朋友在用手机发短信，于是打了那个女孩。我女儿看到了，把那个女孩送进了洗手间，并用自己的身体挡在男孩和洗手间门之间，告诉他他不能进去。男孩笑了，说他是个足球运动员，比我女儿大得多。对此，我女儿告诉他，大小并不重要，如果他认为他可以像打他女朋友那样打她，他可以试试，但她不建议他这么做。男孩试图出拳时，我女儿设法躲开，并用她的一些武术技巧将男孩打倒在地。男孩确实抓住了她的手臂并扭伤了她的手腕，导致扭伤，直到附近的三个男孩抓住并按住他，直到学校工作人员介入。我女儿一直保持位置，确保没有人进入洗手间，直到教练把足球运动员带走。那时，她允许自己被治疗，并让学校打电话给我。她看着我说，我可能会因此被停学，但我会再做一次。幸运的是，学校确实有监控摄像头拍到了他向我女儿出拳的画面，所以他们决定不让她停学，但事实上她知道可能会被停学，仍然说她愿意再做一次，这让我意识到她已经准备好承担更成人的角色。别误会，在她成长的其余时间里，她仍然是个孩子，但那是第一次我意识到她有多成熟。