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鸡娃让现代父母疲惫不堪(Today's Parents: Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind)
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鸡娃让现代父母疲惫不堪
美国公共卫生局局长最近在关于父母心理健康的报告中公开说出了一件许多父母只能偷偷承认的事情：现在养育子女太难了、压力太大了。 
双语精读
Today's Parents: 'Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind'
如今的父母：‘疲惫，倦怠，永远落后于其他人'
In his recent advisory on parents' mental health, the United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, said out loud what many parents might have only furtively admitted: Parenting today is too hard and stressful.
美国公共卫生局局长维韦克·H. 穆尔蒂博士最近在关于父母心理健康的报告中公开说出了一件许多父母只能偷偷承认的事情：现在养育子女太难了、压力太大了。
So why has parental stress risen to the level of a rare surgeon general's warning about an urgent public health issue -- putting it in the same category as cigarettes and AIDS?
那么为什么父母的压力已经上升到了罕见水平，需要公共卫生局局长发出警告，称其为紧迫的公共卫生问题----将其与香烟和艾滋病归为同一类别？
It's because today's parents face something different and more demanding: the expectation that they spend ever more time and money educating and enriching their children.
这是因为如今的父母面临着一些不同的、要求更高的情况：他们被期望花费更多的时间和金钱来教育孩子和丰富孩子们的人生。
These pressures, researchers say, are driven in part by fears about the modern-day economy -- that if parents don't equip their children with every possible advantage, their children could fail to achieve a secure, middle-class life.
研究人员表示，这些压力部分源于对现代经济的担忧：如果父母不能为孩子提供一切可能的优势，那么他们的孩子可能无法获得稳定的中产阶级生活。
Several factors led parents to feel this way. Scientists learned more about how early childhood experiences could affect children's long-term outcomes, and some parents took it further, concluding that young children's lives must be constantly optimized and stimulating.
有几个因素导致父母有这种感觉。科学家们越来越了解童年时期的经历如何影响儿童的长期发展，而一些家长则更进一步，认为儿童的生活必须不断优化和促进发展。
Many parents, even of very young children, were driven by anxiety about college, as a degree became more essential to earning a middle-class wage, and admissions became more competitive.
许多父母，甚至是孩子非常年幼的父母，都对大学感到焦虑，因为学位对于赚取中产阶级工资变得更加必不可少，而入学竞争也变得更加激烈。
Social media has made comparisons with other parents inescapable. Technological change has made it harder to prepare children for future work. Americans have less faith that the political system can address families' problems.
社交媒体使得父母不可避免地要与其他父母进行攀比。技术变革使得帮助孩子为未来的工作做准备变得更加困难。美国人对于政治制度能解决家庭问题的信心也降低了。
Behind it all is the American belief that parenting is an individual task, not a societal one. Unlike other rich countries, the United States has few universal federal family policies, like paid leave or child care subsidies.
在这一切的背后是美国人的一种观念，即养育子女是个人任务，而不是社会任务。与其他富裕国家不同，美国几乎没有覆盖全体的联邦家庭政策，比如带薪休假或儿童保育补贴。
During the women's movement of the 1970s, the country considered the idea that government and employer policies could help parents work and care for their families, as Kirsten Swinth, a history professor at Fordham, has written.
福特汉姆大学的历史学教授柯尔斯滕·斯温思写道，在20世纪70年代的妇女运动期间，美国曾考虑过让政府和雇主制定政策，帮助父母兼顾工作和家庭。
But the Reagan era ushered in a different idea -- that the government should not interfere in family life. "This was very compelling -- 'I want control over how I raise my kids,'" said Professor Swinth, who studies women's and economic history.
但里根时代带来了一种不同的理念：政府不应干涉家庭生活。"这种理念在当时非常有说服力----‘我希望能掌控我抚养孩子的方式'，"研究女性史和经济史的斯温思教授说，
"But practically, it meant that the systems that would aid parents, especially as women went into the workplace, like after-school and summer care, didn't get funded."
"但实际上，这意味着那些本可以帮助父母，尤其是在女性进入职场后提供帮助的体系，比如课后和暑期托管，这些体系没有得到资金支持。"
The increased demands of raising children, combined with responsibilities like paid work and elder care, have come at the expense of mental health, leisure time, sleep, and time alone or with a spouse.
养育孩子的要求变得更高，再加上有薪工作和照顾老人等责任，履行这些责任是以牺牲心理健康、休闲时间、睡眠以及独处或与配偶相处的时间为代价的。
"We're crushing parents under an enormous burden, for the benefit of society, and we're sort of free-riding" on them, Professor Swinth said.
"我们为了社会的利益，让父母被沉重的负担累垮，我们在某种程度上是在搭便车。"斯温思教授说。
词汇预习
individual [高考]
美[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl] | 英[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl]
adj. 单独的；一个人的；独有的 n. 个人；个体
issue [高考]
美[ˈɪʃuː] | 英[ˈɪʃuː]
n. 问题，议题，争论点；（报纸、杂志等的）期刊号；发放，分配；（新股票或邮票等的）发行；子女，后嗣；流出，发出 v. 发表，颁布；分发，分配；正式发行；流出，发出；由……产生，由…得出
economic [高考]
美[ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪk] | 英[ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk]
adj. 经济的，经济学的；有利可图的；节约的
economy [高考]
美[ɪˈkɑːnəmi] | 英[ɪˈkɒnəmi]
n. 经济；节约 adj. 经济的；廉价的
essential [高考]
美[ɪˈsenʃl] | 英[ɪˈsenʃl]
adj. 本质的；必要的；重要的 n. 要素；必需品
constantly [高考]
美[ˈkɑːnstəntli] | 英[ˈkɒnstəntli]
adv. 不断地；经常地
employer [高考]
美[ɪmˈplɔɪər] | 英[ɪmˈplɔɪə(r)]
n. 雇主
competitive [高考]
美[kəmˈpetətɪv] | 英[kəmˈpetətɪv]
adj. 竞争的；有竞争力的；胜过或超过他人的
stressful [高考]
美[ˈstresfl] | 英[ˈstresfl]
adj. 紧张的；压力重的
parental [高考]
美[pəˈrentl] | 英[pəˈrentl]
adj. 父母的
enormous [高考]
美[ɪˈnɔːrməs] | 英[ɪˈnɔːməs]
adj. 巨大的；庞大的
practically [高考]
美[ˈpræktɪkli] | 英[ˈpræktɪkli]
adv. 实际上；几乎；简直
leisure [高考]
美[ˈliːʒər] | 英[ˈleʒə(r)]
n. 闲暇；休闲
middle-class [高考]
美[ˌmɪdl ˈklæs] | 英[ˈmidlˈklɑ:s]
adj. 中产阶级的
interfere [高考]
美[ˌɪntərˈfɪr] | 英[ˌɪntəˈfɪə(r)]
vi. 干涉；妨碍
media [高考]
美[ˈmiːdiə] | 英[ˈmiːdiə]
n. 传播媒介；(medium的复数)媒体；新闻媒介
belief [高考]
美[bɪˈliːf] | 英[bɪˈliːf]
n. 信念；信仰；相信
mental [高考]
美[ˈmentl] | 英[ˈmentl]
adj. 思想的；心理的；精神的；脑力的 n. 精神病患者
anxiety [高考]
美[æŋˈzaɪəti] | 英[æŋˈzaɪəti]
n. 焦虑；担心；渴望
rare [高考]
美[rer] | 英[reə(r)]
adj. 罕见的；珍贵的；煎得嫩的
expectation [高考]
美[ˌekspekˈteɪʃn] | 英[ˌekspekˈteɪʃn]
n. 预料；期望
political [高考]
美[pəˈlɪtɪkl] | 英[pəˈlɪtɪkl]
adj. 政治的；政治上的；政党的；人事的；争权夺利的
secure [高考]
美[sɪˈkjʊr] | 英[sɪˈkjʊə(r)]
adj. 安全的；牢靠的；稳妥的 vt. 使安全；获得；固定
faith [高考]
美[feɪθ] | 英[feɪθ]
n. 信仰；信念；信任
equip [高考]
美[ɪˈkwɪp] | 英[ɪˈkwɪp]
vt. 装备；具备；准备；穿 abbr. 装备（=equipment）
urgent [高考]
美[ˈɜːrdʒənt] | 英[ˈɜːdʒənt]
adj. 紧急的；急迫的；坚持要求的
federal [高考]
美[ˈfedərəl] | 英[ˈfedərəl]
adj. 联邦制的；联邦政府的；同盟的 n. 联邦主义者；同盟盟友
surgeon [高考]
美[ˈsɜːrdʒən] | 英[ˈsɜːdʒən]
n. 外科医生
expense [高考]
美[ɪkˈspens] | 英[ɪkˈspens]
n. 费用；花费；代价
wage [高考]
美[weɪdʒ] | 英[weɪdʒ]
n. 工资；报酬 v. 开展；从事；进行(战争、运动)
AIDS [高考]
美[eɪdz] | 英[eɪdz]
abbr. 爱滋病；获得性免疫功能丧失综合症(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
in part [高考]
美[ɪn pɑːrt] | 英[ɪn pɑːt]
部分地
control over [高考]
美[kənˈtrol ˈovɚ] | 英[kənˈtrəul ˈəuvə]
控制
essential to [高考]
美[ɪˈsɛnʃəl tu] | 英[iˈsenʃəl tu:]
对 ... 是必不可少的
further [高考]
美[ˈfɜːrðər] | 英[ˈfɜːðə(r)]
adv. 更远地，再往前地；进一步；此外，而且 adj. 更多的，进一步的；（距离上）更远的，较远的 v. 促进，推进
warning [高考]
美[ˈwɔːrnɪŋ] | 英[ˈwɔːnɪŋ]
n. 警告；警报；预兆 adj. 警告的；告诫的
era [高考]
美[ˈɪrə] | 英[ˈɪərə]
n. 纪元；时代；年代
inescapable [高考]
美[ˌɪnɪˈskeɪpəbl] | 英[ˌɪnɪˈskeɪpəbl]
adj. 无法逃脱的；不可避免的
workplace [高考]
美[ˈwɜːrkpleɪs] | 英[ˈwɜːkpleɪs]
n. 工作场所
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
long-term [四级]
美[ˌlɔːŋ ˈtɜːrm] | 英[ˌlɒŋ ˈtɜːm]
adj. 长期的
spouse [四级]
美[spaʊs] | 英[spaʊs]
n. 配偶 v. 和…结婚
come at [四级]
美[kʌm æt] | 英[kʌm æt]
v. 达到；袭击；弄清
at the expense of [四级]
美[æt ði ɪkˈspɛns ʌv] | 英[æt ðə iksˈpens ɔv]
以 ... 作为代价
interfere in [四级]
美[ˌɪntɚˈfɪr ɪn] | 英[ˌɪntəˈfiə in]
v. 干涉；介入
demanding [四级]
美[dɪˈmændɪŋ] | 英[dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ]
adj. 要求多的；吃力的
parenting [四级]
美[ˈperəntɪŋ] | 英[ˈpeərəntɪŋ]
n. (父母)对孩子的养育
advisory [四级]
美[ədˈvaɪzəri] | 英[ədˈvaɪzəri]
adj. 顾问的；咨询的；劝告的 n. 报告
learned [四级]
美[lɜːrnd , ˈlɜːrnɪd] | 英[lɜːnd , ˈlɜːnɪd]
adj. 有学问的；博学的
stimulating [专四]
美[ˈstɪmjəˌletɪŋ] | 英[ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪŋ]
adj. 刺激的；令人兴奋的
compelling [专四]
美[kəmˈpelɪŋ] | 英[kəmˈpelɪŋ]
adj. 引人注目的；紧迫的；令人信服的
societal [考研]
美[səˈsaɪɪtl] | 英[səˈsaɪətl]
adj. 社会的
don [托福]
美[dɑn] | 英[dɒn]
n. 先生（西班牙用语）；(牛津、剑桥大学的)指导教师 v. 穿上
crushing [雅思]
美[ ˈkrʌʃɪŋ] | 英[ˈkrʌʃɪŋ]
adj. 压倒的；决定性的；支离破碎的；毁灭性的
重点讲解
Today's Parents: ‘Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind'
如今的父母：‘疲惫，倦怠，永远落后于其他人'
furtively adv. 偷偷地；遮遮掩掩地
【例】She furtively checked her phone under the table during the meeting.
开会的时候她偷偷在桌子下面查看手机。
【近义词】stealthily/secretly adv. 偷偷地
on the sly 偷偷地
In his recent advisory on parents' mental health, the United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, said out loud what many parents might have only furtively admitted: Parenting today is too hard and stressful.
美国公共卫生局局长维韦克·H. 穆尔蒂博士最近在关于父母心理健康的报告中公开说出了一件许多父母只能偷偷承认的事情：现在养育子女太难了、压力太大了。
furtively adv. 偷偷地；遮遮掩掩地
【例】She furtively checked her phone under the table during the meeting.
开会的时候她偷偷在桌子下面查看手机。
【近义词】stealthily/secretly adv. 偷偷地
on the sly 偷偷地
So why has parental stress risen to the level of a rare surgeon general's warning about an urgent public health issue -- putting it in the same category as cigarettes and AIDS?
那么为什么父母的压力已经上升到了罕见水平，需要公共卫生局局长发出警告，称其为紧迫的公共卫生问题----将其与香烟和艾滋病归为同一类别？
demanding adj. 要求高的；费力的
【例】a demanding job 很不轻松的工作
a demanding teacher 要求严格的老师
【拓展】demands n. （困难的、使人劳累的）要求
【例】His new job makes a lot of demands on him.
他的新工作对他要求很高。
It's because today's parents face something different and more demanding: the expectation that they spend ever more time and money educating and enriching their children.
这是因为如今的父母面临着一些不同的、要求更高的情况：他们被期望花费更多的时间和金钱来教育孩子和丰富孩子们的人生。
demanding adj. 要求高的；费力的
【例】a demanding job 很不轻松的工作
a demanding teacher 要求严格的老师
【拓展】demands n. （困难的、使人劳累的）要求
【例】His new job makes a lot of demands on him.
他的新工作对他要求很高。
These pressures, researchers say, are driven in part by fears about the modern-day economy -- that if parents don't equip their children with every possible advantage, their children could fail to achieve a secure, middle-class life.
研究人员表示，这些压力部分源于对现代经济的担忧：如果父母不能为孩子提供一切可能的优势，那么他们的孩子可能无法获得稳定的中产阶级生活。
equip sb with sth 给某人配备某物
【例】to equip the students with necessary skills
给学生配备必要的技能
【搭配】equip sb for sth 让某人准备好做某事
【近义词】arm sb with sth/kit sb out with sth 给某人配备某物
【拓展】equipment n. 设备
optimize v. 优化；使尽可能完善
【例】to optimize the production process 优化生成流程
【拓展】optimistic adj. 乐观的
optimal adj. 最优的；最佳的
optimum n. 最优结果；最佳条件
stimulating adj. 有刺激性的；激励人的；促进健康的
【例】a stimulating topic 能激发讨论的话题
a stimulating teacher 能激发学生兴趣的老师
a stimulating form of exercise 促进健康的锻炼
【拓展】stimulate v. 刺激；激发；促进（身体的功能）
Several factors led parents to feel this way. Scientists learned more about how early childhood experiences could affect children's long-term outcomes, and some parents took it further, concluding that young children's lives must be constantly optimized and stimulating.
有几个因素导致父母有这种感觉。科学家们越来越了解童年时期的经历如何影响儿童的长期发展，而一些家长则更进一步，认为儿童的生活必须不断优化和促进发展。
equip sb with sth 给某人配备某物
【例】to equip the students with necessary skills
给学生配备必要的技能
【搭配】equip sb for sth 让某人准备好做某事
【近义词】arm sb with sth/kit sb out with sth 给某人配备某物
【拓展】equipment n. 设备
optimize v. 优化；使尽可能完善
【例】to optimize the production process 优化生成流程
【拓展】optimistic adj. 乐观的
optimal adj. 最优的；最佳的
optimum n. 最优结果；最佳条件
stimulating adj. 有刺激性的；激励人的；促进健康的
【例】a stimulating topic 能激发讨论的话题
a stimulating teacher 能激发学生兴趣的老师
a stimulating form of exercise 促进健康的锻炼
【拓展】stimulate v. 刺激；激发；促进（身体的功能）
Many parents, even of very young children, were driven by anxiety about college, as a degree became more essential to earning a middle-class wage, and admissions became more competitive.
许多父母，甚至是孩子非常年幼的父母，都对大学感到焦虑，因为学位对于赚取中产阶级工资变得更加必不可少，而入学竞争也变得更加激烈。
admission n. 准许进入
【例】hospital admissions 住院人数
admission to the park 入园/进入公园
to apply for admission to the club 申请加入俱乐部
admission prices 入场费
【拓展】admit v. 准许进入
prepare sb for sth 让某人为某事做好准备
【例】The college prepares students for a career in business.
这个学院是培养学生以后从事商业工作。
【辨析】prepare for sth 为某事做好准备
prepare sth 做某事
【例】She got dressed to prepare for dinner.
她换好衣服，为晚餐做准备。
She was preparing dinner.
她在准备/做晚餐。
Social media has made comparisons with other parents inescapable. Technological change has made it harder to prepare children for future work. Americans have less faith that the political system can address families' problems.
社交媒体使得父母不可避免地要与其他父母进行攀比。技术变革使得帮助孩子为未来的工作做准备变得更加困难。美国人对于政治制度能解决家庭问题的信心也降低了。
admission n. 准许进入
【例】hospital admissions 住院人数
admission to the park 入园/进入公园
to apply for admission to the club 申请加入俱乐部
admission prices 入场费
【拓展】admit v. 准许进入
prepare sb for sth 让某人为某事做好准备
【例】The college prepares students for a career in business.
这个学院是培养学生以后从事商业工作。
【辨析】prepare for sth 为某事做好准备
prepare sth 做某事
【例】She got dressed to prepare for dinner.
她换好衣服，为晚餐做准备。
She was preparing dinner.
她在准备/做晚餐。
Behind it all is the American belief that parenting is an individual task, not a societal one. Unlike other rich countries, the United States has few universal federal family policies, like paid leave or child care subsidies.
在这一切的背后是美国人的一种观念，即养育子女是个人任务，而不是社会任务。与其他富裕国家不同，美国几乎没有覆盖全体的联邦家庭政策，比如带薪休假或儿童保育补贴。
universal adj. 全体的；普遍存在的
【例】a universal truth 普世的真理
Food is a universal need. 食物是一种普遍需求。
universal health insurance 全体医保
【拓展】universe n. 宇宙
During the women's movement of the 1970s, the country considered the idea that government and employer policies could help parents work and care for their families, as Kirsten Swinth, a history professor at Fordham, has written.
福特汉姆大学的历史学教授柯尔斯滕·斯温思写道，在20世纪70年代的妇女运动期间，美国曾考虑过让政府和雇主制定政策，帮助父母兼顾工作和家庭。
universal adj. 全体的；普遍存在的
【例】a universal truth 普世的真理
Food is a universal need. 食物是一种普遍需求。
universal health insurance 全体医保
【拓展】universe n. 宇宙
But the Reagan era ushered in a different idea -- that the government should not interfere in family life. "This was very compelling -- ‘I want control over how I raise my kids,'" said Professor Swinth, who studies women's and economic history.
但里根时代带来了一种不同的理念：政府不应干涉家庭生活。"这种理念在当时非常有说服力----‘我希望能掌控我抚养孩子的方式'，"研究女性史和经济史的斯温思教授说，
usher in sth 开启某事；带来某事
【例】The French Revolution ushered in a new age.
法国大革命开创了一个新时代。
【近义词】herald v. 预报某事来临
compelling adj. 令人信服的；不可抗拒的
【例】compelling evidence 有说服力的证据
a compelling desire 非常强烈的欲望
a compelling book 让人读得停不下来的书
【拓展】compel v. 强迫；迫使
fund v. 提供资金
【例】How is the museum funded?
博物馆运营所需的钱从哪里来？
【拓展】funding/funds n. 资金
fund n. 基金；专款
"But practically, it meant that the systems that would aid parents, especially as women went into the workplace, like after-school and summer care, didn't get funded."
"但实际上，这意味着那些本可以帮助父母，尤其是在女性进入职场后提供帮助的体系，比如课后和暑期托管，这些体系没有得到资金支持。"
usher in sth 开启某事；带来某事
【例】The French Revolution ushered in a new age.
法国大革命开创了一个新时代。
【近义词】herald v. 预报某事来临
compelling adj. 令人信服的；不可抗拒的
【例】compelling evidence 有说服力的证据
a compelling desire 非常强烈的欲望
a compelling book 让人读得停不下来的书
【拓展】compel v. 强迫；迫使
fund v. 提供资金
【例】How is the museum funded?
博物馆运营所需的钱从哪里来？
【拓展】funding/funds n. 资金
fund n. 基金；专款
The increased demands of raising children, combined with responsibilities like paid work and elder care, have come at the expense of mental health, leisure time, sleep, and time alone or with a spouse.
养育孩子的要求变得更高，再加上有薪工作和照顾老人等责任，履行这些责任是以牺牲心理健康、休闲时间、睡眠以及独处或与配偶相处的时间为代价的。
at the expense of 以……为代价
【例】He built up the business at the expense of his health.
他以自己的健康为代价逐步建立起这个企业。
【近义词】at the cost of 以……为代价
by sacrificing sth 牺牲某物
free-ride v. 搭便车；坐享其成
【例】He tried to free ride on the success of his colleagues.
他试图从同事的成功上白拿好处。
【近义词】slack v. 偷懒；懈怠
【例】He is slacking in the teamwork.
他在团队工作中划水。
"We're crushing parents under an enormous burden, for the benefit of society, and we're sort of free-riding" on them, Professor Swinth said.
"我们为了社会的利益，让父母被沉重的负担累垮，我们在某种程度上是在搭便车。"斯温思教授说。
at the expense of 以……为代价
【例】He built up the business at the expense of his health.
他以自己的健康为代价逐步建立起这个企业。
【近义词】at the cost of 以……为代价
by sacrificing sth 牺牲某物
free-ride v. 搭便车；坐享其成
【例】He tried to free ride on the success of his colleagues.
他试图从同事的成功上白拿好处。
【近义词】slack v. 偷懒；懈怠
【例】He is slacking in the teamwork.
他在团队工作中划水。
课后练习
What did the surgeon general warn about?
A. Children are under high pressures and neglected.
B. Parents have unrealistic expectations of children.
C. Cigarettes and AIDS pose risk to the public health.
D. Parents are exhausted from intensive care of children.
What are some of the factors contributing to the increasing pressure on parents?
A. The economic slowdown and decline in family income.
B. Fierce college competition and insufficient government help.
C. Misunderstanding of children’s development and wrong methods.
D. The intrusion of technology in family life and lack of communication.
What does Kirsten Swinth think about family policies in the Reagan era?
A. They weakened people’s autonomy in parenting.
B. They prioritized economic growth over child caring.
C. They involved unfair treatment of working mothers.
D. They led to the absence of systematic support for parents.
According to Professor Swinth, what is the main concern regarding the current situation of parents?
A. Society enjoys benefits without sharing the burden of child care.
B. Parents are too obsessed about the idea of perfect parenting.
C. Parents generally prioritize leisure time over responsibilities.
D. Society should pay parents for raising their children.
