As parents it’s our responsibility to teach, guide and encourage our kids. If we do our job right they go on to become responsible contributing members of society.
作為家長，教育、引導和鼓勵子女是我們的責任。如果我們盡職盡責，孩子們就會成長為對社會負責為社會做貢獻的人。
No pressure…right?
這不是什么壓力，對吧？
Teaching practical life skills and philosophies are important parts of developing our children into well rounded and happy adults. The time we have with our kids is precious and relatively short.
教授實際生活技巧和哲學是將孩子培養(yǎng)成全能且快樂的成人的重要部分。我們和孩子們共度的時光寶貴而短暫。
With that in mind, I would like to share with you a list of 40 things that I will teach my kids before they leave home. Some are serious while some are lighthearted, since I think an important part of forming a meaningful relationship with our kids is to have a little fun along the way.
記住了這一條，我想和大家分享我的孩子離家前，我會教他們的40件事。有些很嚴肅，有些很輕松，因為我覺得與孩子建立有意義的關(guān)系的重要部分在于過程中充滿點滴樂趣。
Practical life skills
實際生活技巧
I will teach my kids:
我會教給孩子：
…that doing a proper grocery shop, including meal planning, shopping with a list and comparing prices, can save them a considerable amount of time and money.
合理購物，包括計劃餐食、帶著清單購物，貨比三家，這可以為他們節(jié)省不少時間和金錢。
…there is more to cooking and baking than simply opening a can or reheating a meal.
烹飪烘焙可比開罐頭或者熱剩飯意義大得多。
…that it’s important to sort your laundry not only by color, but by fabric type and care instructions.
洗衣服時不僅按顏色分類，也按織物種類和保養(yǎng)指南分類，這很重要。
…that no matter what the fashion is at the time, when it comes to an interview, work or special occasions — grab an iron. Walking around all wrinkled and creased sends a message of laziness.
不論潮流如何，面試、工作或者特殊場合——找把熨斗。穿著皺皺巴巴的衣服，說明你很懶。
…h(huán)ow to grow and care for a plant. This is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to instill responsibility. I’d start with an easy to care for houseplant like an umbrella tree or amaryllis or a potted tomato plant out on the deck.
如何種植照料植物。這種灌輸責任感的方法簡單而又便宜。我會從易于照顧的盆栽如傘樹或桂頂紅或盆栽番茄開始。
…h(huán)ow to change a car tire so that when they get a flat they are less likely to be stranded on the side of the road not knowing what to do.
如何換汽車輪胎，這樣當有只癟胎時，他們就不會束手無策地站在路邊。
…to drive responsibly and to be acutely aware of the consequences of drinking and driving, even if they are the passenger.
開車時負有責任心，要很了解酒后駕駛的后果，哪怕僅僅作為一名乘客。
…that they can save money on books if they frequent the library.
如果他們經(jīng)常去圖書館，就可以省下買書錢。
…h(huán)ow to do standard maintenance on their cars like change the oil and various filters as well as top up fluids and replace light bulbs.
如何維修汽車，比如換滑油和各種過濾器，如何加油加水，更換燈泡。
…h(huán)ow to read a bus schedule so if they aren’t in a position to afford a car they can still get around with public transportation.
如何讀懂公交站牌，這樣，如果他們買不起車，也一樣可以利用公共交通工具四處行走。
…that they can have a lot more fun if they build things from scratch. I’m thinking birdhouses, step stools, go-karts, kites and paper planes.
如果他們從頭開始自己做東西，就會享受很多樂趣。我能想到的有鳥屋、梯櫈、小型賽車、風箏和紙飛機。
…h(huán)ow to tie a variety of knots so whether they are tying up a boat or pulling a car out of a ditch or snowbank they are better armed.
如何打各種各樣的結(jié)，這樣當他們想把船系牢或者把車拉出溝渠或雪堤時，就會有備無患。
…h(huán)ow to barbecue a perfect meal paying particular attention to pre-grill prep and special recipes.
如何作出美味的燒烤，要格外留心燒烤前準備以及特殊烹飪秘訣。
…the importance of reading food labels. Not only to become aware of individual ingredients but to also know the quantities of sugar, additives and types of fats they contain.
閱讀食品標簽的重要性。不僅要理解各種成分，還要了解食品中所包含的糖、添加劑和各種脂肪。
…h(huán)ow to hem pants, sew on buttons and mend socks.
怎么給褲子鎖邊、縫扣子、補襪子。
…h(huán)ow to type properly with both hands on the keyboard. In a society where computers are used for nearly everything, learning how to type properly will increase their efficiency and productivity.
如何兩只手打字。在這個計算機無處不在的社會，學習正確打字可以提高效率和生產(chǎn)率。
…the concept of compound interest. Who doesn’t want to make interest on interest?
復利的概念。誰不想用復利賺錢??？
…h(huán)ow to create an effective budget that allows them to live within their means and continually increase their net worth.
如何計劃有效的預算，既能保證生活，又能使凈資產(chǎn)持續(xù)增加。
…h(huán)ow to read a map and use a compass.
怎么看地圖，怎么使用指南針。
…h(huán)ow to build a quinzee and survive a night in the cold. (A quinzee is basically a hollowed out mound of snow and are actually quite warm to sleep in! This was one of my favorite experiences as a kid.)
如何修建雪穴以抵御寒冷的夜晚。（雪穴其實就是一個挖空的雪堆，睡進去很暖和！這是我孩提時最喜歡的經(jīng)歷。）
…h(huán)ow to swim and tread water, these skills could potentially save their life.
怎么游泳，怎么趟水，這些技能可能會救他們的命。
Philosophical life lessons
哲學生活課
I will teach my kids:
我會教給孩子：
…that they can be happy if they choose to be happy.
如果他們選擇開心，他們就能開心。
…that a smile is the simplest thing you can do to truly brighten the day of someone else.
微笑是你能夠讓別人擁有美好一天的最簡單的方法。
…about compassion and how they can go beyond empathy by truly understanding and feeling other people’s pain and suffering. Once they have this understanding and a genuine desire to relieve other’s pain it will make them better people.
同情以及通過真正理解感受他人的苦難，如何超越感同身受。一旦他們有這樣的理解，而且真誠地愿意幫助別人減輕痛苦，他們就會成為更好的人。
…that there is no such thing as being too polite. You can never say please, thank-you or excuse me too often.
壓根沒有“太禮貌”這回事?！罢垺薄?“謝謝”和“對不起”永遠不嫌多。
…h(huán)ow listening without judgement, criticism or offering solutions to problems, is a guaranteed way to show someone you care.
不評判、批評或提供問題解決方案，純粹聆聽，是告訴某人你關(guān)心他的萬無一失的方法。
…that respect goes beyond being kind to their elders – it also includes property, people in general, animals and even themselves.
尊重不僅僅是善待長輩-也包括愛惜東西，善待眾人，愛護動物，甚至包括自己。
…to focus on enjoying what they already have instead of wasting time focusing on what they don’t have.
專注于享受已經(jīng)擁有的東西，而不是浪費時間關(guān)注自己沒有的東西。
…that NOBODY knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.
沒有人知道所有事情的所有細節(jié)。
…that it’s okay to be wrong as that’s how we learn.
錯了沒關(guān)系，因為那是我們學習的方式。
…to pursue things that are right for them as opposed to blindly following what society says they should do. The road less traveled usually brings the greatest rewards.
追求適合他們的東西，而不要盲從社會認為他們應該做的。人跡罕至的路通常收獲最大。
…that nobody will care as much about their money as they will, so they should choose their investments and financial advisers wisely.
沒人會像自己那樣在乎自己的錢，所以要明智地選擇自己的投資和財務顧問。
…that people usually do the best they can with the information and knowledge they have at the time.
人們通常用他們手頭所有的信息和知識盡可能做到最好。
…that if something looks too good to be true it likely is.
如果有東西好得難以置信，很可能那東西就是不可信。
…that the more they become attached to a thought or idea in the future, the greater their disappointment (suffering) will be when it doesn’t play out as planned.
如果他們糾結(jié)于某個想法或觀點，當計劃落空時，他們的失望（痛苦）就越大。
…that friends may come and go but family will always be by their side. Always.
朋友來來去去，而家人總會守在他們身旁。一直如此。
…that they will get more than they ever could have imagined simply by being kind and generous to those less fortunate.
慷慨善待那些不幸的人，他們將從中得到的遠比他們能夠想象的要多。
…that life is short and that they should make the most of each and everyday. They should do things that make them smile, that make them feel alive and energized. Live.
人生苦短，他們應該盡量利用每一天。他們應該做讓自己開心、讓自己充滿生機，充滿能量的事情。及時行樂。
…to remember that life is more about enjoying the journey than simply reaching the destination.
記住人生更多的是享受這個旅程，而不僅僅是到達目的地。
There are so many things I want to teach my kids and this list grows with each passing day. I want the best for my kids, as any parent does. I occasionally need to remind myself that they are their own little people on their own journeys in life.
我想教給孩子們的東西那么多，這份清單的長度與日俱增。和任何家長一樣，我也望子成龍。偶爾我需要提醒自己，他們是獨立的小人兒，走在自己的人生旅途上。
How I see my role as a parent — I’m here to guide them, teach them and make sure they are well equipped with the skills, knowledge and common sense to survive and thrive on their own once they leave home. Time will tell if I’ve done my job well.
我怎么看待家長這個角色—我在這里引導他們，教導他們，確保他們有足夠的技巧、知識和常識，一旦他們離開家，也能獨自生存，并且茁壯成長。時間會證明我這家長是否合格。
What do you plan on teaching your kids? What is the best life lesson you’ve been taught?
你準備怎么教你的孩子? 你學到的最好的人生功課是什么？
