What??s It like to Become a Dad?

陳曉春

It was the day after Christmas 33 years ago. I was newly married and still in college. Only 10 days earlier， my wife had given birth to our first child.

The day before， we had been on the road showing off our baby to all of the grandparents and great-grandparents. It had been a busy Christmas and hard on my wife， who was still recovering from giving birth. Then we were back in our house， trying to get some sleep before starting a new day.

Just then I heard JJ （our little boy） waking up. I went over and picked him up before he started to cry and then carefully walked out into the living room so my wife could keep sleeping. I picked up a bottle and sat in a chair with JJ in my arms. I fed him in the dark room while he looked up at me with his loving eyes. I spoke quietly to him， but also felt a little fear as I watched him. How was I going to take care of him？ I was still in school and had no idea what the future held in store for us. I rocked back and forth in my chair as it concerned me.

After a few minutes， I saw the sun slowly rising in the sky outside my window. The bright light shining down from the sky made the snow outside shine with a beauty that touched my soul. As I watched it， my fear left and I felt a feeling of peace， harmony， love， and joy. The Christmas spirit appeared in my heart and I smiled. I knew then that whatever the future held， it would be okay as long as I kept love in my heart.

【難句解析】

1. Only 10 days earlier， my wife had given birth to our first child.

釋義：僅僅十天前，我的妻子生下了我們第一個孩子。

點撥：give birth （to sb.）意為“生下……”;sb. is born 意為“某人出生”。“時間段+earlier / before”用于過去完成時，“時間段+ ago”用于一般過去時。例如：

He had seen her two days before. = He had seen her two days earlier. 兩天前他看見了她。

He saw her two days ago. 兩天前他看見了她。

2. Then we were back in our house， trying to get some sleep before starting a new day.

釋義：然后，我們回到我們的家，設法在新的一天開始前睡一會兒。

點撥：trying to get some sleep是現在分詞作狀語，try與其邏輯主語we是主謂關系。現在分詞作狀語時，其表示的動作或狀態與謂語動詞是同時或幾乎同時發生的。例如：

The sun began to rise in the sky， bathing the mountain in golden light. 太陽開始在天空升起，金黃色的陽光沐浴著大山。

3. Just then I heard JJ waking up.

釋義：就在這個時候，我聽到JJ醒過來。

點撥：在此句中，I作主語，hear作謂語，JJ作賓語，waking up作賓語補足語。感官動詞see， watch， observe， look at， hear， listen to， notice等后面的賓語補足語常見的有三種形式：接動詞原形表示主動，表示這一動作的全過程，而且動作已經結束;接現在分詞表示主動，表示這一動作正在進行;接過去分詞表示被動或動作已經完成。例如：

I heard her sing in the next room. 我曾聽見她在隔壁房間唱歌。

I heard her singing in the next room. 我聽到她正在隔壁房間里唱歌。

I heard the song sung in the next room. 我曾聽到隔壁房間里（有人）唱過這首歌。

4. I picked up a bottle and sat in a chair with JJ in my arms.

釋義：我拿起奶瓶，坐在椅子上，手臂抱著JJ。

點撥：with JJ in my arms是with復合結構中的一種，即with+名詞/代詞+介詞短語，作伴隨狀語，表示位置。例如：

Mother looked at me with tears in her eyes. 媽媽眼含淚水看著我。

I. Choose the right answer.

1. When the child was born， ____.

A. it was Christmas Day?????????????????? B. the writer was 33 years old

C. the writer wasnt married ?????????????? D. the writer was a college student

2. Which sentence shows about the writer？

A. He felt proud of having a son.???? ???? B. He was rocking his son to sleep.

C. He felt confused and worried.??? ? D. He was too tired to fall asleep.

3. What made the writer feel better？

A. The sunlight.????????????????????? ????????? B. The snow.

C. Christmas.??????????????????????? ????????? D. His wifes smile.

4. What is the story mainly about？

A. The writers regrets about having a child early.

B. The writers memory of becoming a father.

C. What the future holds for all of us.

D. How to keep others in our hearts.

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. She ____ ____ ____ （生下了） a fine healthy baby.

2. I ____ ____ ____ （看見她正在打掃） the classroom when I came in.

3. The man was asleep ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ （頭放在他的手臂上）.

4. What time do you usually ____ ____ （醒過來） in the morning？

5. Only a month earlier， Mr. Stenholm ____ ____ （宣布） for the plan.

6. He fired into the air， ____ ____ （希望） the noise would frighten them off.