Section A  Discussion

Discuss and answer the following questions.

1        Do you think that your parents are the most important people in your life? Why or why not?

 2        What is the ideal relationship between parents andtheir children in your view?

 3        In Chinese culture, parents believe that they raise children so that their children will look after them when they are old. Do you accept this view?

 4        Do you agree that parents are often willing to sacrifice a lot for their children? Discuss and explain your position with examples.

Section B  Quotes

Study the following quotes. What do they tell you about the task of parenting and the role of your parents in your life? Do you like these quotes? State your reasons.

 1.   To understand yourparents' love you must raise children yourself.                                         — Chinese proverb

2.     My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but Ithink she enjoyed it.                                          — Mark Twain

3.     As long as you have the blessing of your parents, it does not matter even if you live in the mountains.                         — Greek proverb

Study the following quotes. What do they tell you about the task of parenting and the role of your parents in your life? Do you like these quotes? State your reasons.

 1.   To understand yourparents' love you must raise children yourself.                                         — Chinese proverb

Interpretation:

When you have children ofyour own and know how much you love them, you’ll be able to understand how muchyour parents have loved you. The original saying in Chinese is “养儿方知父母恩”.

2.     My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but Ithink she enjoyed it.                                          — Mark Twain

Interpretation:

My mother had ahard time trying to bring me up as I gave her a lot of trouble when I was a child, but she was happy to go through all the trouble of raising me.

3.     As long as you have the blessing of your parents, it does not matter even if you live in the mountains.                         — Greek proverb

Interpretation:

Parents' love and good wishes for you are the most important things in your life. As long as you have their love and good wishes, you are a “rich” person already even if you have to live alone in an isolated place.