When you were 17, she was expecting an important call. You thanked her by being on the phone all night.
你17岁时，她在等一个重要电话。而你对她的感恩回报，就是电话粥煲了一通宵。

When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation. You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.
你18岁时，她为你高中毕业喜极而泣。而你对她的感恩回报，就是在外面参加聚会通宵达旦不回家。

Growing Old and Gray
年华渐增

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, drove you to campus, carried your bags. You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of your friends.
你19岁时，她为你支付大学的学费，开车送你去学校，帮你提包裹行李。而你对她的感恩回报，就是在宿舍门外匆匆说再见，为的是你不致于在朋友面前感到丢人。

When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone. You thanked her by saying, “It’s none of your business.”
你20岁时，她问你是否在和别人约会。而你对她的感恩回报，就是对她说：“这不关你的事！”

When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future. You thanked her by saying, “I don’t want to be like you.”
你21岁时，她为你将来从事什么职业提出一些建议。而你对她的感恩回报，就是对她说：“我才不愿像你那样！”

When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation. You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.
你22岁时，她在你大学毕业典礼上紧紧拥抱你。而你对她的感恩回报，就是问她能否掏钱让你去欧洲旅行。

When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment. You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.
你23岁时，她为你的第一套公寓置办家具。而你对她的感恩回报，就是告诉朋友说这些家具非常难看。

When you were 24, she met your fiancé and asked about your plans for the future. You thanked her by glaring and growling, “Muuhh-ther, please!”
你24岁时，她见到了你的未婚夫，问你们将来有什么打算。而你对她的感恩回报，就是对她怒目而视，大声吼叫：“妈……，求求你别烦了！”

When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you. You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.
你25岁时，她花钱帮你筹办婚礼，对你哭诉着说她是多么地深爱着你。而你对她的感恩回报，就是把家安得离她远远的。

When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby. You thanked her by telling her, “Things are different now.”
你30岁时，她打来电话为宝宝抚养提出忠告。而你对她的感恩回报，就是告诉她：“现在情况和以前不同了！”

When you were 40, she called to remind you of an relative’s birthday. You thanked her by saying you were “really busy right now”.
你40岁时，她打电话提醒你别忘了一个亲戚的生日。而你对她的感恩回报，就是说你“现在忙得不可开交”。

When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her. You thanked her by talking about the burden parents become to their children.
你50岁时，她生病了需要你照顾。而你对她的感恩回报，就是念叨着父母成为了子女的负担。

And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you never did came crashing down like thunder. “Rock me baby, rock me all night long.” “The hand who rocks the cradle... may rock the world”.
后来，有一天，她静悄悄地去了。所有那些你该做而未做的事，仿佛炸雷般在你耳边轰隆而过。“摇啊摇，小宝宝，一摇摇到大天亮。”“摇摇篮的手啊……可以摇世界。”

Let us take a moment of the time just to pay tribute and show appreciation to the person called MOM though some may not say it openly to their mother. There’s no substitute for her. Cherish every single moment. Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may not agree to our thoughts, she is still your mother!
让我们花一点点时间，对那个被我们叫做“妈”的人表达敬意和感激之情，虽然有些人当着面说不出口。她是不可替代的。珍惜与她在一起的每一时刻吧。虽然有时候，她可能不是我们最好的朋友，可能不同意我们的想法，但她依然是你的妈妈！