Family rules of the Obamas
奥巴马家训
America's "First Daughters," 12-year-old Malia and9-year-old Sasha Obama,are not really different from most kids.They even have a set of rules at home with their parents.
美国的"第一女儿",今年12 岁的玛丽亚和9岁的萨莎奥巴马,与大多数孩子不同,在家里她们的父母对她们约法三章.
Malia and Sasha must do teo thinfs before going to sleep and after getting up:set ther alarm clock and make the bed.these are trivial things but do make sense if kids want to learn to stand on their own feet.
在睡前和起床后,玛丽亚和萨莎必须做两件事:定闹钟和整理被褥.这些虽是小事,但却对孩子学会独立生活很有意义.
Do your parents pay you money for your help with housework?the answer may be"no.".however,obama does pay his daoghters $1 per week for helping do the housework.As the saying goes,"no pian,no gain."
如果你帮忙做家务活,你的父母付钱给你吗?答案可能是"不".不过,奥巴马每周却为他的女儿们所做的家务活付酬1美元.正如俗话所说,"没有付出,就没有收获".
Obama does not think it necessary to give gifts,especially expensive ones,to his daughters.Why?Because he hopes that Malia and Sasha will keep a cool head while others are showing off expensive gifts on their birthdays.Festivals without gifts are simpler and purer.
奥巴马认为不必送礼物给女儿,尤其是昂贵礼物给.这是为什么呢?因为他希望,当玛丽亚和萨莎看到其他孩子炫耀其昂贵的生日礼物时能保一颗平常心.而没有礼物的节日会更显得简单、淳朴.
Malia an Sasha are also advised to take " an active part in afer-school activities." It is not about how outstanding they are in such activities,but about enjoying life to the fullest.
玛丽亚和萨莎还被（父母）教导积极参加课外活动.这并非是为了（让她们）在这样的活动中展示自己的才华如何如何,而是通过这些活动（让她们）尽可能地去享去受生活（的乐趣）.