英语优秀的作文散文阅读参考.docx

英语优秀的作文散文阅读参考Timeisrunningoutformyfriend.Whilewearesittingatlunchshecasuallymentionssheandherhusbandarethinkingofstartingafamily."We'retakingasurvey,"shesays,half-joking."DoyouthinkIshouldhaveababy?""Itwillchangeyourlife,"Isay,carefullykeepingmytoneneutral."Iknow,"shesays,"nomoresleepinginonweekends,nomorespontaneousholidays..."Butthat'snotwhatImeanatall.Ilookatmyfriend,tryingtodecidewhattotellher.Iwanthertoknowwhatshewillneverlearninchildbirthclasses.Iwanttotellherthatthephysicalwoundsofchildbearingwillheal,butbecomingamotherwillleaveherwithanemotionalwoundsorawthatshewillbevulnerableforever.Iconsiderwarningherthatshewillneveragainreadanewspaperwithoutthinking:"WhatifthathadbeenMYchild?"Thateveryplanecrash,everyhousefirewillhaunther.Thatwhensheseespicturesofstarvingchildren,shewillwonderifanythingcouldbeworsethanwatchingyourchilddie.Ilookathercarefullymanicurednailsandstylishsuitandthinkthatnomatterhowsophisticatedsheis,becomingamotherwillreducehertotheprimitivelevelofabearprotectinghercub.IfeelIshouldwarnherthatnomatterhowmanyyearsshehasinvestedinhercareer,shewillbeprofessionallyderailedbymotherhood.Shemightarrangeforchildcare,butonedayshewillbegoingintoanimportantbusinessmeeting,andshewillthinkherbaby'ssweetsmell.Shewillhavetouseeveryounceofdisciplinetokeepfromrunninghome,justtomakesureherchildisallright.Iwantmyfriendtoknowthateverydecisionwillnolongerberoutine.Thatafive-year-oldboy'sdesiretogotothemen'sroomratherthanthewomen'satarestaurantwillbecomeamajordilemma.Theissuesofindependenceandgenderidentitywillbeweighedagainsttheprospectthatachildmolestermaybelurkinginthelavatory.Howeverdecisiveshemaybeattheoffice,shewillsecond-guessherselfconstantlyasamother.Lookingatmyattractivefriend,Iwanttoassureherthateventuallyshewillshedtheaddedweightofpregnancy,butshewillneverfeelthesameaboutherself.Thatherownlife,nowsoimportant,willbeoflessvaluetoheronceshehasachild.Shewouldgiveitupinamomenttosaveheroffspring,butwillalsobegintohopeformoreyears—nottoaccomplishherowndreams—but