【英语时差8,16】高中朋友太爱拿小孩来比较

Dear Annie:

"Becky" and I have been friends since high school. We both have young children now, and they are usually the topic of our conversations. The problem is, Becky constantly points out things about my children in a negative way. My 9-year-old daughter loves history, science and biology, and noticing her extensive non-fiction library, Becky said, "She doesn't have much of an imagination." When our children were playing together, my younger daughter tripped and fell, and Becky casually¹ remarked, "She's awfully² clumsy, isn't she?"

I defend my children when she says these thoughtless things, but it doesn't matter. I'm not sure if she's being competitive or just inconsiderate. I don't want to lose this friendship, so what do I do? — Confused in Omaha

Dear Omaha:

We think she's being competitive. The fact that these comments are also inconsiderate is incidental. Becky points out your children's flaws in order to make her kids seem superior. It's a sign of insecurity, and it isn't going to stop until she recognizes what she is doing. The next time it happens, tell her you are sorry she feels the need to belittle³ your children and you'd like her to stop.

 

1 casually   

adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地

参考例句：

• She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
• I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。

2 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

3 belittle   

v.轻视，小看，贬低

参考例句：

• Do not belittle what he has achieved.不能小看他取得的成绩。
• When you belittle others,you are actually the one who appears small.当你轻视他人时， 真正渺小的其实是你自己。