爲什麼我很感激身邊沒生小孩兒的朋友
They Know There's More to Me Than "Mom"
他們知道，除了'母親'，我還有其它想做的事情Most of my friends without kids knew me before I started a family, so they know there's so much more to me than just being a mom. They see how important my kids are to me, but know they don't define the limits of who I can be.
組建家庭之前，我的大多數沒生過小孩的朋友就認識我了，所以他們知道除了母親，我還有其它想做的事情。他們知道孩子於我的重要性，但也知道他們不會因此限定'我是誰'。They Have Patience
他們很耐心
They mask any feelings of annoyance when talking on the phone with me while my kids are performing a shrieking duet in the background. I remember what it was like being on the other side of those phone calls, and I was constantly confused about whether people were talking to me or their kids. My friends' patience is amazing.
當我和他們打電話而小孩在身後尖叫二重奏的時候，他們會掩蓋自己的煩惱。我還記得身處接電話一方的感受，我總會疑惑：他們是在和我講話，還是在和孩子說話？我的朋友實在太有耐心了。
They're Aware of My Kids' Bedtime
他們知道孩子該睡覺了Instead of having to apologetically explain that I need to work around my kids' bedtime every time we make plans, they naturally weave it into conversations and events without any trace of irritation.
每一次制定計劃的時候，我都不用略帶抱歉的向他們解釋需要考慮孩子的睡覺時間，他們會自然而然的聊到這件事，而且一點都不會不高興。They Come to Me
他們會來找我The scales are definitely weighted in my family's favor when it comes to where we spend time. They come to my house way more than I go to theirs. They suggest it and joke that if they're inviting themselves over, but we both know it's for my convenience. Without steady sitters around to help, they know it's the easier option and they genuinely don't mind.
談及去哪兒聚的時候，大家總說去我家。他們來我家的次數比我去他們家的次數多太多了。這是他們建議的，他們還笑話說自己不請自來，但我們都知道這是爲了讓我方便。我家沒有請固定的保姆幫忙，他們知道這樣更容易，而且也真的不介意。They Know My Clock Is Slow
他們知道在我的觀念裏，時間走的很慢They know that when they do come over, dinner will always be at least 30 minutes later than I said it would be. They know that my toddler will have broken a new record in bedtime procrastination.
他們知道當他們真的要來我家的時候，晚餐至少要比我說的時間晚30分鐘。他們知道我的孩子會在睡覺拖延方面創新記錄。They Show Me Grace
他們十分寬容我Because they know that nothing ever gets done on time, they give me a grace period with their arrival time. They get to my house a little late, something they've come to understand as my version of being on time.
因爲他們知道我什麼事都無法按時完成，所以來的時候會有一段緩衝期。他們會稍遲一點到我家，因爲他們已經逐漸瞭解我所謂的準時。They're Genuinely Interested
他們是真的感興趣They ask about my kids and truly listen when I talk about them.
他們會問一些有關孩子的問題，當我作出回答的時候，他們真的有在聽哦。They Help Me Laugh
他們會讓我笑They listen during times of crisis or when I'm feeling overwhelmed by small moments. They help me laugh while validating my feelings.
當我遇到危機或當我被一些小細節壓到喘不過氣的時候，他們會認真聆聽我的感受。在梳理感受的時候，他們能讓我笑。
