3Latchkey Children—Knock, Knock, Is Anybody Home [N].docVIP

Latchkey Children—Knock, Knock, Is Anybody Home? [N] 挂着钥匙的小孩——笃，笃，有人在家吗？ Latchkey children refers to children whose parents both work and who have to carry the latchkey with them and spend time alone in the house after school (挂着钥匙的儿童). 挂着钥匙的小孩——笃，笃，有人在家吗？ ?In the United States the cost of living has been steadily rising for the past few decades. 在美国过去的几十年中，生活开支一直在持续上升。Food prices, clothing costs, housing expenses, and tuition fees are constantly getting higher and higher. 食品价格、服装开支、住房开支以及学费不断增高。 Partly because of financial need, and partly because of career choices for personal fulfillment, mothers have been leaving the traditional role of full-time homemaker. 母亲们已经不再扮演专职家庭主妇的传统角色，这在一定程度上是出于经济上的需要，一定程度上也是为了使自己有一种成就感。 Increasingly they have been taking salaried [N] jobs outside the home. 她们越来越多地在从事家庭以外的带薪水的工作。 [2] Making such a significant role change affects the entire family, especially the children. 这样重大的角色转换影响着整个家庭，尤其是小孩。Some consequences are obvious. For example, dinnertime is at a later hour. 某些后果是显而易见的，例如，晚饭时间推迟了。The emotional impact, on the other hand, can be more subtle. 然而，这种转变对感情的影响更为微妙。 Mothers leave home in the morning, feeling guilty because they will not be home when their children return from school. 母亲们早上带着负疚感离开家，因为孩子放学回家时她们不能在家等候。They suppress their guilt since they believe that their work will benefit everyone in the long run. 她们压抑着负疚心理，因为相信从长远来看这份工作对大家都有利。 The income will enable the family to save for college tuition, take an extended vacation [N], buy a new car, and so on. 她们的收入能够使家庭积攒起孩子的大学学费、全家度一个更长的假期、买一辆新车，等等。 [3] The emotional impact on the children can be significant. 孩子们在感情上所受到的影响是很大的。It is quite common for children to feel hurt and resentful. 孩子们普遍感到受了伤害，有怨恨情绪。After all, they are alone several hours, and they feel that their mothers should be there for them. 毕竟有好几个小时他们要独自呆在家里，而他们觉得母亲应该“在那儿”等着他们。 They might need assistance with their homework or want to share [N] the days activities. 他们也许会需要母亲帮他们完成家庭作业，或是想把一天里的活动说给母亲听 All too often, howe