Unit 3 Social Problems
Latchkey Children—Knock, Knock, Is Anybody Home
哈密瓜的英文>大耳朵英语In the United States the cost of living has been steadily rising for the past few decades. Food prices, clothing costs, housing expens, and tuition fees are constantly getting higher and higher. Partly becau of financial need, and partly becau of career choices for personal fulfillment, mothers have been leaving the traditional role of full-time homemaker. Increasingly they have been taking salaried jobs outside the home.
贾斯汀比伯私生子Making such a significant role change affects the entire family, especially the children. Some conquences are obvious. For example, dinnertime is at a later hour. The emotional impact, on the other hand, can be more subtle. Mothers leave home in the morning, feeling guilty becau they will not be home when their children return from school. They suppress their guilt since they believe that their work will benefit everyone in the long run. The income will enable the family to save for college tuition, take an extended vacation, buy a new car, and so on.
小语种>flowergarden
The emotional impact on the children can be significant. It is quite common for children to feel hurt and rentful. After all, they are alone veral hours, and they feel that their mothers should "be there" for them. They might need assistance with their homework or want to share the day's activities. All too often, however, the mothers arrive home exhausted and face the immediate task of preparing dinner. Their priority is making the evening meal for the family, not engaging in relaxed conversation. thereyouwillbe
新动力英语>octalLatchkey children range in age from six to thirteen. On a daily basis they return from school and unlock the door to their home with the key hanging around their necks. They are now on their own, alone, in quiet, empty rooms. For some youngsters, it is a productive period of private time, while for others it is a frightening, lonely void. For reasons of safety, many parents forbid their children to go out to play or to have visitors at home. The youngsters, therefore, feel isolated.
Latchkey children who were interviewed reported diver reactions. Some latchkey children said that being on their own for a few hours each day fostered, or stimulated, a s
en of independence and responsibility. They felt loved and trusted, and this feeling encouraged them to be lf-confident. Latchkey girls, by obrving how their mothers coped with the demands of a family and a job, learned the role model of a working mother. Some children stated that they ud their unsupervid free time to perfect their athletic skills, such as playing basketball. Others read books or practiced a musical instrument. The children looked upon their free time after school as an opportunity for personal development. It led to positive, productive, and valuable experiences.
Converly, many latchkey children expresd much bitterness, rentment, and anger for being made to live in this fashion. Many claimed that too much responsibility was placed on them at an early age; it was an overwhelming burden. They were little people who really wanted to be protected, encouraged, and cared for through attention from their mothers. Coming home to an empty hou was disappointing, lonely, and often frightening. They felt abandoned by their mothers. After all, it emed to them that most other children had "normal" families who mothers were "around," whereas their own mothers were never home. Many children turned on the television for the whole afternoon
day after day, in order to diminish feelings of isolation; furthermore, the voices were comforting. Frequently, they would doze off.
midgetBecau of either economic necessity or strong determination for personal fulfillment, or both, the phenomenon of latchkey children is widespread in our society. Whatever the reason, it is a compelling situation with which families must cope. The question to ask is not whether or not mothers should work full-time. Given the reality of the situation, the question to ask is: how can an optimum plan be worked out to deal effectively with the situation.
It is advisable for all members of the family to express their feelings and concerns about the inevitable change candidly. The remarks should be discusd fully. Many factors must be taken into consideration: the children's personality and maturity, the amount of time the children will be alone, the safety of the neighborhood, accessibility of help in ca of an emergency. Of supreme importance is the quality of the relationship between parents and children. It is most important that the children be cure in the knowledge tha
t they are loved. Feeling loved provides invaluable emotional strength to cope successfully with almost any difficulty that aris in life.
挂钥匙的孩子——笃、笃，家里有人吗
在过去的几十年中，美国的生活费用一直在持续增长。食品价格。服装费用、房子开销和学费都越来越高。母亲们纷纷放弃传统的全职家庭主妇的角色，这一部分是由于经济需要，一部分是想通过工作取得成就感。她们越来越多地从事家庭以外的有薪水的工作。
如此重大的角色转换影响着整个家庭，尤其是孩子们。某些后果是非常明显的。例如，晚饭时间推迟了。而另一方面，这种转变对情感的影响就更微妙了。母亲们早上带着愧疚感离开家，因为孩子放学回来时她们会不在家。她们压抑着愧疚心理，因为她们相信她们的工作从长远来讲对大家有益。她们的收入将能够使家庭存下钱来供孩子上大学。度一次长假、买辆新车，等等。
孩子们在情感上所受到的影响是很大的。通常，孩子会感到受伤和愤怒。毕竟，他们一个人呆几个小时，他们感到他们的母亲应该“在那儿”等着他们。他们可能需要有人帮他们完
成作业，或者想把一天的活动说给母亲听。然而，母亲们通常筋疲力尽地回到家，又要面临一个紧迫的任务——准备晚饭。她们的首要任务是给全家人做晚饭，而不是轻松的聊天。
挂钥匙的孩子年龄从六岁到十三岁不等。每天，他们放学回家，用挂在脖子上的钥匙打开门，独自一人，孤孤单单地呆在安静而空荡荡的屋子里。对某些孩子来说，这段个人时间是很有所作为的，而对于另外一些孩子，却是令人害怕的孤单的空虚。由于安全原因，很多父母不允许孩子出去玩，或带客人到家里来。因此，孩子们感到一种被隔离的感觉。
cafeteria被采访的挂钥匙的孩子们反应不同。一些孩子说，每天自己呆上几个小时培养或激发了他们的独立意识和责任心。他们感到被爱、被信任，并且这一感觉鼓励他们自信。挂钥匙的女孩子通过观察母亲如何持家和工作，学习了职业母亲的行为榜样。一些孩子称他们利用这段不受监督的自由时间来提高他们的运动技能，如打篮球。还有一些孩子读书或练习乐器。这些孩子把放学后的自由时间看作个人发展的机会。这段时间带给了他们积极的、有成就的宝贵的经历。
