The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 99 I'll give you a child

[China] Zhang Xiaofeng

O world, what kind of man will you give me back this morning when I, a mother, gave you her sweet little boy?
The little boy walked out of the gate, turned back and waved to me on the balcony on the fourth floor, saying, "Goodbye!"

That was many years ago, and that morning was the second day he had started elementary school.

In fact, I can still accompany him again like yesterday, but I made up my mind to see him go alone.He has a life that belongs to him, and I can't accompany him. Mother and child can only be regarded as a borrowed piano. You can play as long as you can, but the borrowed years have a return period after all.

He happily walked out of the long alley, obediently neither running nor jumping, with an appearance of following the rules.I stared blankly at the rising sun and wept.

I want to tell people in the whole city out loud that I gave them a little boy this morning. He didn't know what fear is, but I knew it. I began to fear whether I had crossed.

I handed him over to the road, I told him to obey the rules and walk along the sidewalk, but, hurrying passers-by, can you be more careful?Don't hit my child, I hand over my beloved to the crossroads, allow me to see him come back safe and sound!I have never moved my registered permanent residence, we don’t want to go to school across districts, I let my children go to national elementary schools in this district instead of some private star elementary schools, I try my best to trust the education authorities, and I trust my children as a bet—but, School, when I entrust my child to you, what kind of education do you promise to give him?This morning, I handed over to you a happy, honest and enlightened little boy. After many years, what kind of youth will you give me back?
He began to read and read, of course, he also read newspapers, listen to music or watch TV, movies, writers throughout the ages!All kinds of knowledge transmitters!What will my children gain from you?Will we drink it, drink it, or feed it with dross?Will he thus become upright and faithful, or will he learn to be cunning and deceitful?When I hand over my child, when he thirsts for knowledge from the world, what will you give him, O world?

O world, what kind of man will you give me back this morning when I, a mother, gave you her sweet little boy?
Heart mark notes
Every mother has the time when she watches her child leave home to go to school alone for the first time. The emotion is complex, anxious and full of anticipation.When a mother gives a child to the society, she is worried whether her pure and lovely child can integrate well into the complex society, and she is worried about what kind of knowledge the school can teach her happy and honest child... She holds a trembling heart Pray to the whole world that after a few years, please give her back a righteous, faithful, healthy and kind boy.

Zhang Xiaofeng described the worries, tensions, reluctance and expectations when watching her son go to school with the delicate feelings and brushstrokes of a mother.This slender and long concern, vividly on the paper, makes people feel moved after reading it.A mother's love for her son always touches the softest part of everyone's heart.

(End of this chapter)