15 金 L23 (6)Parenting and Grandparenting
Our current vignette talks about grandparenting classes. The idea of a refresher course in baby care is quite interesting, isn’t it? Any grandparents will experience generational differences with their children about how kids should be raised let alone how they should be brought into this world. ・let alone 〜言うまでもなく
You know the vignette says the best courses are taught by registered nurses who are certified childbirth educators. I’m sure those classes are best in more ways than one. Not only are the certified educators likely to provide reliable information thanks to their training, grandparents-to-be are probably more likely to accept and follow their advice. I mean it must be hard for prospective grandparents to take directions on child-rearing from their own children. Who wouldn’t think, “Hey, I raised you, didn’t I? You survived and you’re basically normal. Don’t tell me how to navigate child-rearing!” But it’s true that new attitudes and knowledge about what’s best for children emerge over the years. An outside expert, like those registered nurses, has authority that inspires confidence and compliance. Your grandchildren are a bit past the child-rearing stages we talk about in the vignette, right, Mr. Sugita.
That’s right. Two of our grandchildren are in their preteens and early teens, and the third one will enter primary school next year. So we’ve finished our share of maternal and newborn care. But we still have to be mindful of not offering unsolicited advice about how they should be brought up. You see, our son’s family moved into the same condominium complex with us last year. There are ample merits to living close to each other, but we have to bite our tongues and wait until our advice is sought.
I think you’re right, I think that is the crucial point. I hope I can do that someday for my daughter, be ready to help with her kids, but only when she asks for it. And I’m sure that just providing reassurance will be one of the most important things I can do. When my daughter was still a baby, some of the most vital support. I got from my parents and in-laws was just them saying “Don’t worry. X or Y or Z happens all the time with kids. It’s not serious.” And that didn’t stop when she grew out of babyhood. They still reassure me like that all the time.
Letting a husband and sometimes children in the delivery room and filming the moment of childbirth seems to be quite popular in Japan too. Did you film your daughter’s birth, Heather?
No, we didn’t. My husband was in the delivery room with me though for which I was very grateful. He held my hand, wiped my forehead and encouraged me to keep going the whole time.
Any other advice for potential grandparents?
I did like a suggestion about being positive. I was pretty nervous in the early days of my daughter’s life. I was so scared. I was gonna do something wrong and cause a horrible problem. So I was very grateful when friends and family told me, “Hang in there. I know it’s all new and really daunting right now. But you’re doing a great job. And it’s going to get easier. You’ll get to know her habits and things will start flowing more smoothly.”
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一刻千金
Every moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
春宵一刻
On a spring evening, every moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
Time is money. 時は金なり
14 木 L23 (5) Parenting and Grandparenting
McMillan jokes that his parents blame each other for how he turned out. His wife blames him and he blames his parents and society. Lyons says he thinks grandparenting classes are here to stay and describes his own parents retired life in Costa Rica. Their activities include teaching English to local children. And Lyons believes their lifestyle will keep them mentally sharp.
pater and mater 親父とおふくろ、父と母
Up at the top, McMillan says, “My pater and mater liked to blame each other for the way I turned out.” These are the Latin words for father and mother. And they appear in other words, paternal, maternal. Maternity, paternity. Women giving birth stay in the hospital’s maternity ward. And fathers take paternity leave.
blame each other お互い相手のせいにする、避難し合う
Say that each other are at fault. John and Mary blame each other for missing the deadline. So, John thinks it’s Mary’s fault and vice versa. And we blame ourselves too. Like, I blame myself for Karen’s mistake. I didn’t explain it to her well enough.
turn out 〜になる。〜だと判明する
In this case, “turn out” means “how something ends.” You know, was there a good result, a bad result. What was the final outcome? Things like, how did that joint venture turn out in the end? And “turn out” can also mean “discovered in the end, it proved to be.” Like, that new smartphone turned out to be cheaper than I expected.
for some one’s part 誰々にしてみれば、〜に関する限り、〜の意見では
As far as this person is concerned, as regards their share in the matter. For my part, I think we should move to an office. Or, John, for his part, dislikes the new logo.
It’s all down to -, すべては〜次第である
It’s all this person’s responsibility or it all depends on them. Things like, productivity has fallen. And I think it’s all down to morale. Our employees are unhappy and motivated right now.
failing 欠点、弱点
be here to stay 定着している、普及している
I think it’s safe to say, there is her to stay.
Not going to change or leave, firmly established. Such as, Is virtual currency here to stay or is just a fad? Or, the warm weather is here to stay for a while. Temperatures will be high through next week.
disadvantaged 恵まれない、不利な境遇にいる
Down at the bottom, Lyons says, “they’ve taken disadvantaged local children into their home to teach them English” When people are disadvantaged, they don’t have things like money and education. Or, they don’t have as much of them. These things that help people thrive in society. There are scholarships for disadvantaged young people, for example. Food stamps help disadvantaged people buy food.
economically disadvantaged 経済的に恵まれていない、不利な poor の婉曲語
keep someone mentally sharp 人が精神的に元気でいられるように
Keep someone in good mental condition, able to think and function clearly. Some people say brain teaser puzzles help keep us mentally sharp. I’ve heard that exercise also contributes to mental sharpness or mental acuity.
well into one’s [someone’s] old age 人がかなりの高齢になるまで
“Well into” means “we have advanced far into something. Something has been underway for a while. Like, John arrived well into the party. So, the party had been going on for some time when he got there. Or, the bad guy doesn’t appear until well into the movie. So, the movie has been going on for a while, when finally the bad guy shows up.
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of course
After McMillan says, “I blame my parents and society in general for my failings, of course.”
Collins replies, “Of course.” She is playing along with his joke. McMillan, of course, and his parents and his wife aren’t seriously blaming each other.
He’s just making a joke. And Collins is confirming the joke. “Oh, right. Of course. Yes!” So if I said, “I am going to lose 30 pounds in one month. And I will look like I am 25 again.”
My friend might say, “Of course, you will.”
本当はそうじゃないんだろうけど
And also, part of the joke is that together they repeatedly say, “Of course.”
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flash in the pan 《a ～》一時的な成功（者） 火打ち石銃が火皿（pan）の中で発火するが空発に終わる様子から
実践ビジネス英語 2019/3/13 (4)Parenting and Grandparenting
McMillan compliments Ueda’s mother on how well she raised him. And Ueda says his grandmother still gives her lots of advice on things like who he should marry. Lyons says his grandparenting class also warns against being too critical and says grandparents should be supportive so as to form a cooperative child-rearing relationship with the parents.
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a certain degree of – ある程度の〜
humility 謙虚さ
be in order ふさわしい、適切である
Be required or be appropriate in a certain situation. For example, I think courtesy is in order regarding older employees. We should respect their age and experience. Or, imagine a friend gets a great new job. You can say, “Well, obviously congratulations are in order. That’s wonderful.”
change from generation to generation 世代を経て変わる、世代によってかわる
apparently どうも〜のようだ。〜らしい
go down well よい評判を得る、評判がいい。
Go over well, that would also work in this kind of situation. Both “go down” and “go over” refer to how something is received. What’s the response to it? You could ask a colleague, “How did your proposal go over?” And they might answer, “It went over very well.”
be well advised to -, 〜するのが懸命である、〜したほうがいい。
In the middle, McMillan says, “I think your dear grandma would be well advised to take up some sort of hobby.” This would be a wise course of action. It would be wise to do this.
McMillan could also say, “I think your dear grandma would be advised to.”Without the well.”
And they should be advise with the “Z” sound. Not advice which has an “S.” She’d be well advised to get to work on time, for example. People are starting to notice her lateness. Or, he’d be advised to start saving now.
You will be ill advised to invest all your money in one company.
be ill advised to… ～しない方がいい
take up 趣味などをはじめる
In this case, “take up” means “adopt as a hobby or a pass time.” He’s taken up yoga for stress. Or, she’s taken up meditation.
dote on -, 〜を溺愛する、〜をひどく可愛がる
I’ll avoid making a hobby of doting on my grandchild.
Shower with love and affection. Sometimes excessive, but not always, She dotes on her pet dogs, buys them lots of toys and clothes. And the adjective is “doting.” He’s a doting father to all his children. /an apple of one’s eye 目に入れても痛くない
perceive 感覚的に受け止める、理解する
See something a certain way, interpret it this way, have this opinion of it. For example, she’s sometimes perceived as arrogant, but she’s actually shy.
overly critical あまりにも批判的な
Excessively critical. We could also be overly supportive. You know, not telling someone, when they need to make changes, when they need to fix something. Or, he’s overly protective of his daughter. He needs to give her more freedom in life.
collaborative 共同の、協調的な、協力的な
This refers to collaboration, cooperation. A situation where people are working together. This is a collaborative project between Company X and Company Y. Or, this is a collaboration between the two companies.
not to be too pushy あまり押し付けがましくしないこと、あまり強引にしないこと
resist the urge to -, 〜したい衝動を抑える
Fight against the desire to do something. Resist that desire. I’m trying to resist the urge to snack between meals. Or, he can’t resist the urge to surf the Internet during work.
insist on -, 〜を強く要求する、主張する
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defensive 守りの姿勢をとる、形容詞
Down towards the bottom, Lyons says, “The more your son or daughter perceive you as being overly critical, the more defensive they’ll be.”
We say a person is defensive when they won’t take criticism and they respond aggressively to defend themselves. Imagine a coworker has been making a lot of mistakes lately. And the boss talks to them about it. But if the person says, “Well, you know, I have been really busy lately. And like, you know, other people ask me to help them with their work too. And I’ve got a lot to do at home, you are taking care of my children.” That’s being defensive. That’s not saying,
“Ah, yes. I’m aware that there have been some mistakes. And I will do my best to make sure they don’t happen again.”
Don’t be too defensive. 自己弁護する必要はありませんよ
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with all due respect 失礼ながら、恐れ乍ら、 = with due respect
due 当然の、然るべき十分な
I disagree.
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The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t.
忍耐と強情の違いは、一方は大抵がやろうとする強い意志から、もう一方がやろうとしない強い意志からきていることである。