英語故事:大樹和小樹
【英文原文】
A young father asked an elderly neighbor how strict parents should be with their children.
The old man pointed to a rope between a big tree and a young one, saying:"Untie the rope."
The young father did so and at once the young tree bent. Then the old man asked the young man to tie it again, and immediately the young tree stod upright as it used to.
Now the old man said,"There, it is the same with children. You must be strict with them for their healthy growth. But sometimes you must let them stand alone to see if they are strong enough. Being strict with them is for the sake of their independence development."
【中文譯文】
一位年輕父親問一位上年紀的鄰居，父母親應該如何嚴格對待自己的孩子。
老人指着一根綁在一棵大樹和一棵小樹之間的繩子說：“解開繩子。”
年輕父親解開繩子，小樹馬上彎下了腰。隨後，老人讓年輕父親又綁好繩子，小樹馬上像先前那樣站得筆直。
這時，老人說道：“瞧，這和養孩子一樣，爲了他們健康成長，你必須嚴格要求他們。但有時，你必須讓他們自立，看他們是否足夠強壯。嚴格要求他們，是爲了他們獨立發展。”
