安贝·普赖斯/Amber Price

It’s often the simple things in life that make the most significant impact on us. Simple things that change our view of life, change the way we make decisions, leave lasting memories in our minds.

It was late one afternoon in mid-September. My then three-month-old son was napping in his crib and I was spending the afternoon getting settled into our new home in Wisconsin. It was a rainy day. Not cold, but a steady drizzle had been falling all morning and into the afternoon.

As I wandered through our living room, picking up toys and blankets, I happened to glance out my second story balcony window. Puddles had formed on the ground and the rain had slowed.

Down below, where the grass met the pavement and a large puddle had formed, stood a boy of about four. He wore a T-shirt and a pair of shorts and up to his knees he sported a pair of red, rubber boots. Filled with a mixture of fascination and glee, he stomped through the puddle, mud and water flying. Over and over he walked, stomped, splashed through that puddle, happily enjoying what Mother Nature had left for him.

Not more than four feet away stood his mother, watching as her son explored his world. She watched as water droplets, airborne because of his stomping, landed on the boy’s head, clothes and body. Mud flecks flew all around him and still she stood and watched with a pleasant smile on her face. To an unnoticing passerby it was just two people going about their day. But from my new found sensitivity to the joys and experiences of motherhood, it was a touching moment that altered the way I will forever view nay role as a mother.

A simple moment in my life made me stop and realize just how important the simple things really are. As the little boy in the rubber boots grows up, he probably will not remember each afternoon that his mother took him outside and let him stomp in the puddles or each bug that she let him stop to touch. He may not remember each little thing that his mother does for him everyday-each time she lets him explore his world. But he will remember that his mother loved him and he will know that she helped him to learn and grow in a pleasant and fun environment.

Maybe we can all learn from the innocence of childhood that views a rainstorm not as something to run through or to avoid, but something meant to fascinate, to explore and to enjoy. Maybe we should all stop to play in the rain more often. Maybe I will learn more and my views will change as my experience of motherhood grows and evolves. But one thing I know for sure. As soon as my son can walk, I am buying him a pair of rubber boots.

生活中往往有些小事对我们的影响最为深远。小事也能转变我们的人生观，改变我们作决定的方式，并能在脑海中留下难以磨灭的印迹。

9月中旬的一天傍晚，我三岁的儿子正在婴儿**小睡，而我整个下午都在收拾威斯康星州的新家。那天虽然下着毛毛雨，但并不冷。

我在客厅内整理玩具和毯子时，无意中从二楼阳台的窗户向外瞥了一眼，发现地上都是水坑，雨也小了。

楼下的草坪与公路交接处有一个大水坑，旁边站着一个四岁左右的男孩。他穿着T恤衫和短裤，脚下是一双红色的橡胶雨鞋。他兴奋地在水坑里踩来踩去，泥水飞溅。他来回走着，踩着，开心地享受着自然母亲的恩赐。

他的母亲站在离他不到四英尺远的地方，看着儿子探索这个世界，看着飞溅起的水滴落在儿子头上、衣服上和身体上。他满身泥浆，她却仍只是站在那儿看，还面带微笑。在一个不留心观察的路人眼中，他们只不过是在消磨时间。但以我初为人母的喜悦和经验所孕育出的敏感来看，这是一个感人时刻，自此它将改变我对身为人母的理解。

生活中一个小小瞬间，让我驻足思索：小事也意义非凡。小男孩长大后，或许不会记得，妈妈每天下午都带他出门，让他在水坑里踩来踩去，让他停下来摸摸小虫子。也或许不会记得，每天，妈妈都让他探寻这个世界。但他不会忘记，妈妈爱他。他知道，妈妈给他营造了一个舒适且充满乐趣的环境供他学习和成长。

或许，在无忧无虑的童年，我们可以学到：不要把暴风雨看做唯恐避之不及的事情，而应陶醉其中，去研究探索，享受品味。或许，我们应常停下来，在雨中嬉闹。或许，随着为人母的经验的积累，我也会懂得更多，看问题的方式也将有所改变。但有一点，我确信——等儿子一学会走路，我就给他买双橡胶雨鞋。

心灵小语

母亲是孩子最好的老师。

词汇笔记

fascination[,f??ne??]n.魅力；有魅力的东西；迷恋

例 He had a deep fascination with all movies.

他对所有的电影都很着迷。

mud[m?d]n.泥；烂泥

例 Mud caked on his feet.

烂泥粘在他的脚上。

splash[spl??]n.溅泼声；溅上的斑点；（光、色等的）斑点

例 He fell into the water with a splash.

他扑通一声跌入水中。

innocence['?n??s]n.清白；无辜；天真；单纯

例 His innocence was proved at last.

他的清白终于得到了证实。

小试身手

生活中往往有些小事对我们的影响最为深远。

译________________________________________

那天虽然下着毛毛雨，但并不冷。

译________________________________________

他的母亲站在离他不到四英尺远的地方，看着儿子探索这个世界。

译________________________________________

短语家族

I was spending the afternoon getting settled into our new home in Wisconsin.

get settled：安顿好

造________________________________________

Picking up toys and blankets.

pick up：拾起

造________________________________________