We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse.

　　我们竭尽全力想让我们的儿女们过得更好，而结果却是适得其反。

　　

For my grandchildren, I d know better.

　　对我的孙辈们，我就明智得多了。

 

　　I d really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes and home-made ice cream and leftover meatloaf.

　　我真的希望他们能够了解什么是兄长传下来的旧衣服，家制的冰淇淋，以及吃剩的肉糕。

 

　　I really would.

　　我真的希望。

 

　　My cherished grandson,

　　我的宝贝孙子，

 

　　I hope you learn humility by surviving failure and that you learn to be honest even when no one is looking.

　　我希望你在经受失败的考验之后能学会谦卑，也希望你能学会诚实，即使在没有人注视你的时候。

 

　　I hope you learn to make your bed ,

　　我希望你能学会自己叠被子，

 

　　and mow the lawn and wash the car-and I hope nobody gives you a brand-new car when you are sixteen.

　　自己刈草坪，自己洗车--我还希望在你满十六岁时没有人送给你一辆崭新的轿车。

 

　　It will be good if at least one time you can see a baby calf born,

　　假如你至少有一次机会看见小牛犊出生，

 

　　and you have a good friend to be with you if you ever have to put your old dog to sleep.

　　假如你不得不为你的老狗送终，那时有一位好朋友在场为你作伴--那样该有多好啊！

 

　　I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

　　我希望你能为自己的所信仰与人斗得眼青脸肿。

 

　　I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother.

　　我希望你能和你弟弟共一间卧室

 

　　And it is all right to draw a line down the middle of the room,

　　即使你在卧室中间划一条分界线也没关系。

 

　　but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he s scared, I hope you ll let him.

　　可是，当弟弟因为害怕而要爬进你的被窝时，我希望你会接纳他。

 

　　And when you want to see a Disney movie and your kid brother wants to tag along,I hope you take him.

　　当你要出去看迪斯尼电影，你的小弟弟想做你的小尾巴时，我希望你能带上他。

 

　　I hope you have to walk uphill with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

　　我希望你能和朋友们一起爬山，而在你所生活的城市里做这项运动不会有什么危险。

 

　　If you want a slingshot, I hope your father teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

　　如果你想要一把弹弓，我希望你父亲能教你怎样自己做一把，而不是为你买一把现成的。

 

　　I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books, and when you learn to use computers,

　　我还希望你能学会挖泥巴和读书；而当你学会使用电脑时，

 

　　you also learn how to add and subtract in your head.

　　你也应该学会加减法的心算。

 

　　I hope you get razzed by friends when you have your first crush on a girl,

　　当你第一次恋上一个女孩时，我希望你会受到朋友们的嘲弄；

 

　　and that when you talk back to your mother you learn what Ivory soap tastes like.

　　而当你跟你母亲顶嘴时，希望她叫你尝一尝象牙肥皂的滋味。

 

　　May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on the stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

　　但愿你能在爬山时弄破膝盖上的皮，或者在炉子上烧伤手，或者让舌头粘在结冰的旗杆上。

 

　　I hope you get sick when someone blows smoke in your face.

　　我希望吸烟者对着你的脸上喷吐烟雾时，你会感到恶心。

 

　　I don t care if you try beer once, but I hope you won t like it.

　　如果你尝试喝一次啤酒，我不会在意；但是我希望你不会喜欢上它。

 

　　And if a friend offers you a joint or any drugs, I hope you are smart enough to realize that person is not your friend.

　　如果有一位朋友请你吸一口含大麻的香烟，或者任何毒品，我希望你明智地意识到他不是你的朋友。

 

　　I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandpa or go fishing with your uncle.

　　我当然希望你能抽时间来陪你爷爷在门廊上坐一坐，或者陪你叔叔钓钓鱼。

 

　　I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through a neighbor s window,

　　如果你把捧球扔进了邻居的窗户，我希望你母亲惩罚你。

 

　　and that she hugs you and kisses you when you give her a plaster of pared mold of your hand.

　　如果你能剪掉指甲，用石膏做一只自己的手的模型送给你妈，我希望她会给你拥抱和亲吻。

 

　　These things I wish for you-tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness.

　　我希望你能经历：艰难的岁月，挫折和失望；希望你努力工作，幸福快乐.