Mother of all relationships should not be overbearing
When a controlling mother finds that her rebellious son wants to free himself from her clutches and start his own life, what happens? Well, she might just lose it and swallow him.
This happened in Bao, the Chinesecentric film that claimed Best Animated Short at the 91st Oscar Awards. Directed by Chinaborn Canadian director Domee Shi, Bao tells the story of a Chinese steamed bun, or baozi, that comes to life and cries like a baby just before a woman is about to eat it. The lonely Chinese housewife, whose husband is always busy with work, regards the baby baozi as her substitute son. As time passes, it grows up and decides to leave home with its blonde girlfriend. That's exactly when the controlling mom swallows it up whole out of frustration.
The short film actually reflects the condition of the director herself and of most Chinese families.
In China, “widowstyle childcare” describes many Chinese mothers' ending in recent years. The term describes a bitter social reality: Once the child is born, the father disappears. He would work, drink all night, or do anything except help his wife take care of their child. As a result, the mother would throw herself completely into raising the child, without having a life of her own. She needs to know where her child is every moment, what he or she is doing whenever possible — even if the child has attained adulthood. She can be bossy, anxious and seemingly unreasonable. She represents many Chinese mothers of today.
Believe me, such an unnatural relationship can harm both mother and child. When one grows up, he or she may find it difficult to fit in with society. As for the mother, she would feel lonely as long as her child is not around, which may lead to depression and other psychological problems.
Then what is the best model for mothers and children to get along? I'd proudly introduce my mom. When I was a child, she cared for my safety, studies and daily life like every other mother. But her love wouldn't drown me. After I grew up and went to college, she wouldn't interfere in my life because she had already taught me to distinguish good from bad. I don't need to worry about her as she has her own life — loves yoga, cooking, and even started to learn English when she was 40. Now she hangs out with her foreign friends from time to time just like teenagers.
I believe this is a healthy mother — child relationship as the two are independent individuals. Indeed, the mother needs to take care of her child. But instead of providing the fish, it is more important to teach one how to fish. Thus when the child grows up, both have their own life, and do not become attached to each other. A mother is not supposed to control her child for life. By doing so, she would only be pushing her son or daughter away from her because nobody wants to live in a prison made of love.
But the film has a happy ending. The woman finds that it was only a nightmare. I do hope that all mothers who lean too heavily on their children wake up from this dream, so that they would live happily ever after.
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In the
movie：
Bao
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the
father
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He (1)________ little time for the family for the sake of work.
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the
mother
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She regards baozi as her substitute son.
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the
end
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The frustrated mother swallowed up baozi. Luckily, it is nothing but a (2)____________．
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In
(3)______
life
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the
father
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He tends to be (4)________from the family, never bothering to take care of the child.
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the
mother
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She (5)________her own life for her son; she attempts to (6)________ on all her son's whereabouts.
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The
possible
harms
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for the
child
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It will be difficult for the child to get (7)____________for the adulthood and the society.
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for the
mother
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When the child is not around, (8)________ may lead to depression and other mental problems.
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Conclusion
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Mothers and children should have their (9)________life.
(10)________over child's life would only push the child away.
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语篇解读：本文是一篇议论文，讲述了中国母亲养育孩子的方式以及其影响，并阐述正常的母子关系。
1．spares 根据第二段“The lonely Chinese housewife, whose husband is always busy with work, regards the baby baozi as her substitute son.孤独的中国家庭主妇，丈夫总是忙于工作，把宝宝包子当成她的替代儿子。”可知，其丈夫忙于工作，没有时间照顾孩子，也就是丈夫腾不出时间来照顾孩子，故用动词spares。
2．nightmare/ dream 根据最后一段“The woman finds that it was only a nightmare.”可知，最后女人发现是一个噩梦，这是电影的结局，故用nightmare或者dream。
3．real 根据第四段“The term describes a bitter social reality”可知，这个词描述了一个痛苦的社会现实。在现实生活中，丈夫和妻子在抚养孩子方面不同，故用real。
4. absent 根据第四段“Once the child is born, the father disappears.”可知，在抚养孩子的过程中，父亲的作用缺失了。be absent from意为“缺席”。
5．sacrifices 根据第四段“As a result, the mother would throw herself completely into raising the child, without having a life of her own.”可知，母亲完全投入到抚养孩子当中，却没有了自己的生活，即母亲牺牲了自己的生活来照顾孩子，故用sacrifices。
6．spy 根据第四段“She needs to know where her child is every moment, what he or she is doing whenever possible — even if the child has attained adulthood.”可知，她需要随时知道孩子在哪里，尽可能知道他或她在做什么——即使孩子已经成年。即母亲会监视孩子的一切，故用spy。
7．prepared/ready 根据第五段“When one grows up, he or she may find it difficult to fit in with society.”可知，当一个人长大后，他或她可能会发现很难融入社会。即孩子很难为成年或融入社会做好准备，故用prepared或者ready。
8．loneliness 根据第五段“As for the mother, she would feel lonely as long as her child is not around, which may lead to depression and other psychological problems.”可知，至于母亲，只要孩子不在身边，她就会感到孤独，孤独可能会导致抑郁以及其他的心理问题，故用loneliness。
9．separate/own 根据倒数第二段“I believe this is a healthy mother — child relationship as the two are independent individuals.”可知，正常的母子或者母女关系应该是双方都有独自的生活，故用separate或者own。
10．Control 根据倒数第二段“A mother is not supposed to control her child for life.By doing so, she would only be pushing her son or daughter away from her because nobody wants to live in a prison made of love.”可知，母亲不应该去控制孩子，这样只会让孩子远离自己，因为没人愿意生活在爱的牢笼里，故填Control。
