Article 3

Reading Journal By Siwen Bian 6031006287This journal is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor English reading and writing 1 course of Liberal Arts in English Program, Mae Fah Luang University First semester 2018

What Motherhood Really Means Time is running out for my friend. While we are sitting at lunch, she casuallymentions that she and her husband are thinking of \"starting a family.\" Whatshe means is that her biological clock has begun its countdown, and she isbeing forced to consider the prospect of motherhood.\"We're taking a survey,\" she says, half joking. \"Do you think I should have ababy?\"\"It will change your life,\" I say carefully, keeping my tone neutral.\"I know,\" she says. \"No more sleeping in on Saturdays, no more spontaneousvacations......\"But that is not what I mean at all. I try to decide what to tell her. I want herto know what she will never learn in childbirth classes: that the physicalwounds of childbearing heal, but that becoming a mother will leave anemotional wound so raw that she will be forever vulnerable. I considerwarning her that she will never read a newspaper again without asking,\"What if that had been my child?\" That every plane crash, every fire, willhaunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonderif anything could be worse than watching your child die.I look at her manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter howsophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive levelof a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of \"Mommy!\" will cause herto drop her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested inher career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She mightarrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an importantbusiness meeting, and she will think about her baby's sweet smell. She willhave to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just tomake sure her child is all right.I want my friend to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine.That a 5-year-old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than thewomen's at a restaurant will become a major dilemma. That Page 2 of 7

issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against theprospect that a child molester may be lurking in the rest room. Howeverdecisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly asa mother.Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she willshed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has achild. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but willalso begin to hope for more years -- not to accomplish her own dreams, butto watch her child accomplish his.My friend's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way shethinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man whois always careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with hisson or daughter. I think she should know that she will fall in love with herhusband again for reasons she now finds very unromantic.I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn tohit a baseball. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who istouching the soft fur of a dog for the first time. I want her to taste the joythat is so real it hurts.My friend's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in myeyes. \"You'll never regret it,\" I say finally. Then, squeezing my friend's hand, Ioffer a prayer for her and for me and all the mere mortal women whostumble their way into this holiest of callings. Week 4 Title: What Motherhood Really Means (624) Author: Anne Tyler Source: http://m.enread.com/?mid=3&aid=104270 Page 3 of 7

SummaryThis article is to tell us how different things will be when we becomemothers. The author wants to assure her friend that childbearing cannever make her regret. At first, her friend thinks that it will consume alot of her leisure time to take care of a baby (just like most of themodern women). But the author tries to capture for her that no matterhow sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to theprimitive level of a bear protecting her cub. If she sees some accidents,she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching her child die.If her child gives an urgent call of “Mummy”, she would go up with nohesitation. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. It may be easy to restore herfigure after 10 months’ pregnancy, but she will never feel the sameabout herself. Her life will be less important. She will be exhilarated tosee her child accomplish his dream. And even more, she will fall in lovewith her husband again for reasons she now finds very unromantic.Giving birth to a baby can never make a mother regret. My reaction/reflection: This article is difficult for me. There are too many words that I have probably learned before, but I cannot guess the meaning when it appears in the text. Some words I have learned as a noun before now appears as an adjective of a totally different meaning. For example, the word capture, it appears in the text as “I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog for the first time.” Before, I have learned that the meaning of it as a verb is that “take possession of by force, as after an invasion”. But here it means “succeed in representing or expressing something intangible”. Now I know that I should learn a word from all its aspects. Page 4 of 7

For me, I am never panic about marriage or being a mother. Beinga mother or a father can be a significant event of one person’s life.Just like what the author says, you will never feel the same aboutyourself after childbearing. It will totally change your life. This alsoreminds me of the sacrifices that my mother has made for me. Sheused to be seldom able to have a vacation. She has spent too muchtime and energy on our family. I really appreciate her. Now I am in mytwenties, and I begin to know the value of the family. I begin to spendmore time staying with my parents and making them happy. That’s allwhat I can do as a student. And I think sometimes they also need tobe accompanied. For me, I don’t think my offspring will be myencumbrance. I must extremely love it, and then I decide to bear it.This love will not even be upon my husband. I will be exhilaratedwhen it at first learns to babble a few syllables or when it staggers onthe way of its new life. I will be proud of it no matter it is excellent ornot. It will be able to affect my moods easily. It can even make mesomewhat vulnerable. But I would be glad to see all the changes onme. I hope one day I can start my own little family. I hope that day isnot far.New words learned: (At least five new words that you have learned) New Words Definitions1. casually (adv.) in an unconcerned manner2. Dilemma (n.) She casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of \"starting a family.\" state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally Page 5 of 7

3. Decisive (adj.) unfavorable options4. Mere (adj.)5. Stylish (adj.) That a 5-year-old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at a restaurant will become a major dilemma. determining or having the power to determine an outcome However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. being nothing more than specified I offer a prayer for her and for me and all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this holiest of callings. being or in accordance with current social fashions I look at her manicured nails and stylish suit. Rubric for Independent Reading Journal (10%)Articles 123 4 51. Summary(4 %) 1-0 Page 6 of 72. Reflection(3%)3. VocabularyLearned (3%) Scores Total scores _______ ÷ 5 = _____ marksCriteria for the above categories1. Rubric for Article SummaryCategory 5-4 3 2

Summarizing Provides a very Provides a clear Provides a clear but Provides a somewhatthe content thorough and clear and concise shallow summary of muddled, unclear and and concise summary of the the article; may be rambling summary of summary of the article context and excessively brief or the article. article context and content. may include some content. extraneous information.Identifying Student recalls Student recalls Student is not able to Student cannot locateDetails several details for details for most locate most of the details with accuracy. each main point. main point. details of the main point. Is characterized by theParaphrasing Is characterized by Is characterized substantial copying of paraphrasing of the by paraphrasing Is characterized by indiscriminately main idea and of the main idea the substantial selected phrases or significant details and significant copying of key sentences. details phrases and minimal paraphrasingSpelling & There are few or no There are some There are serious Serious errors inGrammar errors in usage, errors in usage, errors in usage, mechanics, usage, grammar, grammar, grammar, grammar, or spelling punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, sentence that make the sentence fragments, sentence fragments, or summary difficult to or spelling. fragments, or spelling. understand. spelling.Total ________/20 ÷ 5= 4 %2. Reflection on the Articles (3%)Students who have completely and clearly responded to the guided questions stated in the reading journalform will get 3 marks.3. Vocabulary Learned (3%) ≥ 70% correct = 2 marks 1 ≤ 70% = 1 mark All correct = 3 marks Reading Summary Rubric Page 7 of 7