Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
It may seem hard to believe, but one day you might be a parent. And it will probably be harder and much more different than you expected it to be. Everything has changed since you were little, even what a typical family looks like. And there are hundreds of books out there that can teach you what you’re doing right and wrong.
Most people don’t need a book, though. If you decide you want to become a mom or dad, you already like kids and want to care for them. With the internet, you can ask millions of people questions about what to do when you’re confused. Or you can walk to the house next door, like your parents did when you were little, and ask your neighbor for help.
Did Amanda have her baby, or is someone else talking about parenting? Read on to find out in today’s English lesson about having kids.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
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Marni: Oh, Rafael. I am just so exhausted. I was up all night with my new baby.
Rafael: Oh my god! How does it feel like to be a new mom?
Marni: It’s great. I mean, I love bonding with my baby. But I have to be honest. Sometimes the responsibility is so overwhelming. I kind of miss my freedom.
Rafael: But what about the connection? Do you feel like it’s a really gratifying bond that you have with your new baby?
Marni: Absolutely. She is amazing. I love her to death, and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. But sometimes I just think there’s all this pressure to be this perfect mom and to do everything for her. And sometimes it’s just kind of overwhelming.
Rafael: As much as I’d like to be in the club as far as parenting goes, that’s what scares me away from it.
Marni: You don’t want to have any regrets, though, so definitely think it through. Having a child is a really huge responsibility.
Rafael: I trust your judgment, for sure, and I’ll think about it. But it’s also about meeting the right person.
Marni: That’s very true.
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Discussion
Marni is exhausted. She was awake all night with her baby, and she didn’t get enough sleep. Having a baby has been a gratifying experience for Marni, so she doesn’t have any regrets. She misses the freedom she had when she wasn’t a mom, though. It’s hard to do whatever she wants now that she has such a big responsibility.
Rafael is interested in being a father one day, but not right now. Stories like Marni’s are a little overwhelming to him, and he doesn’t even have a girlfriend, anyway. He knows there’s time, so for now, Rafael is happy to hear about parenting from someone else. It sounds like a lot of work!
Do you think it was hard for your parents when you were growing up, or were you the perfect child? What’s it like being a parent today?
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