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A longtime nanny reveals what she learned after having her own baby
一个长期保姆生子后的感悟
When I became pregnant last year, I realized my story was about to change.
去年我怀孕了，我意识到我的人生经历即将发生改变。
Childcare has been my profession and my passion since I was a teenager. Over my years as a nanny and baby nurse in the United States and Britain, I’ve cared for dozens of kids and advised hundreds of parents. Last year, spurred on by encouragement from former clients and questions from their friends, I even published a book on the philosophy and techniques that have proven best. But until recently, I wasn’t sure I’d ever have a child of my own.
从十几岁起，保姆就是我的职业，我热爱这一职业。在英美两国作为保姆和母婴护理的这些年，我照看了几十个孩子，并为数以百计的父母提供咨询服务。去年，通过之前客户的鼓励，受到其朋友询问的驱使，我还出版了一本已证实为最佳育儿哲学与技能的书。然而，直到最近，我还不确定我将有一个自己的孩子。
More than a few parents looked at me askance when informed of my childless state. Some even asked, or wrote in anonymous comments, “How can you really know all of this if you’re not a parent?”
一些父母在得知我还没有孩子时，总是用质疑的目光看着我。有些甚至问道，或在匿名评论中写道，“如果你还不是母亲，你是怎么知道这些育儿知识的？”
When I became pregnant last year, I realized my story was about to change.
去年我怀孕了，我意识到我的人生经历即将发生改变。
Everyone talks about pregnancy as having this great glow about it. My pregnancy, however, was tough. I felt guilty for not enjoying it the way I’d imagined I would — and for not being sympathetic enough to the travails of my clients in the past. I now think back on pregnant clients who preferred to stay in bed while I ran around with their toddlers. It used to mystify me, but now I realize it was necessary self-care. In fact, I wish I had done more to help them, even if it was just bringing them crackers. Exhausted and plagued with morning sickness, I myself couldn’t get out of bed some days without a handful of cheddar bunnies.
大家谈起怀孕时，总是容光焕发。然而，我的孕期却是艰难的。没有以我想象的方式享受这一过程，过去没有对客户分娩的痛苦表象足够的同情，我感到内疚。现在想想，当我带着她们蹒跚学步的孩子到处走动时，那些准妈妈们宁愿躺在床上。过去我对她们这一行为总是迷惑不解，现在我才意识到，这是必须的自我调养。我真希望过去能多做一些事情帮助她们，即使仅仅帮她们拿一些饼干。每天早上醒来，筋疲力尽，呕吐不止。有一段时间，如果不吃一些奶酪，我自己甚至难以下床。
The challenges of pregnancy ended when, around Christmastime, I welcomed a beautiful, healthy baby girl into the world. Ella has filled my heart in a way I didn’t think was possible — it’s all-consuming.
大约圣诞节时，我迎来了美丽健康的女儿。怀孕的痛苦终于结束。
So, though my advice to parents remains the same, it’s delivered in a softer voice — for I know firsthand just how tired those parents are, and how much they all just want to do what’s right for their children.
尽管我对父母的忠告仍然未变，交流的声音却更加温和，因为，我亲身经历过，作为父母多么疲惫，多么想要为自己的孩子做正确的事。
译文属可可英语原创，未经允许，不得转载。
