作者为阻止双胞胎孩子外出，谎称滑动玻璃门是窗户，随后反思这种谎言可能对孩子造成心灵伤害，担心其未来错失机会，最终认为父母应坦然说 “不”，而非对孩子撒谎。
Since our twins began learning to walk, my wife and I have kept telling them that our sliding glass door is just a window. The reason is obvious. If we admit it is a door, they’ll want to go outside constantly. It will drive us crazy. The kids apparently know the truth. But our insisting it’s merely a window has kept them from attempting millions of requests to open the door.
自从我们的双胞胎开始学走路，我和妻子就一直告诉他们，我们的滑动玻璃门只是一扇窗户。原因显而易见。如果我们承认那是一扇门，他们就会一直想出去。这会让我们抓狂的。孩子们显然知道真相。但我们坚持说那只是一扇窗户，这让他们没有无数次地要求开门。
I hate lying to the kids. One day they’ll wake up and discover that everything they’ve always known about windows is a lie. I wonder if parents should always tell the truth no matter the consequences. I have a very strong fear that the lie we’re telling is doing spiritual damage to our children. Windows and doors have important metaphorical(比喻) meanings. I’m telling them they can’t open what they absolutely know is a door. What if later in life they come to a metaphorical door, like an opportunity(机会) of some sort, and instead of opening the door and taking the opportunity, they just stare at it and wonder, ＂What if it isn’t a door?＂ That is, ＂What if it isn’t a real opportunity?＂
我讨厌对孩子撒谎。有一天他们会醒悟过来，发现他们一直以来所了解的关于窗户的一切都是谎言。我想知道父母是否应该无论后果如何都始终说实话。我非常担心我们撒的谎会对孩子的精神造成伤害。窗户和门有着重要的比喻意义。我告诉他们，他们不能打开他们绝对知道是一扇门的东西。如果他们在以后的生活中遇到一扇比喻意义上的门，比如某种机会，他们不是打开门抓住机会，而是只是盯着它，心里想着：“如果它不是一扇门呢？”也就是说，“如果它不是一个真正的机会呢？”
Maybe it’s an unreasonable fear. But the bottom line is that I shouldn’t lie to my kids. I should just accept repeatedly having to say, ＂No. We can’t go outside now.＂ Then when they come to other doors in life, be they real or metaphorical, they won’t hesitate to open them and walk through.
也许这种担心是不合理的。但最重要的是，我不应该对我的孩子撒谎。我应该接受反复说“不。我们现在不能出去。”这样的话。这样，当他们在生活中遇到其他的门，无论是真实的还是比喻意义上的，他们都会毫不犹豫地打开门并走过去。
一、重点词汇
1. twin /twɪn/ n. 双胞胎之一；adj. 双胞胎的
2. sliding /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/ adj. 滑动的
3. obvious /ˈɒbviəs/ adj. 明显的
4. constantly /ˈkɒnstəntli/ adv. 不断地
5. apparently /əˈpærəntli/ adv. 显然地
6. attempt /əˈtempt/ v. 尝试；试图
7. lie /laɪ/ v. 撒谎；n. 谎言
8. consequence /ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/ n. 结果；后果
9. spiritual /ˈspɪrɪtʃuəl/ adj. 精神上的
10. metaphorical /məˈtæfərɪkl/ adj. 比喻的
11. absolutely /ˈæbsəluːtli/ adv. 绝对地
12. opportunity /ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti/ n. 机会
13. hesitate /ˈhezɪteɪt/ v. 犹豫
14. unreasonable /ʌnˈriːznəbl/ adj. 不合理的
15. repeatedly /rɪˈpiːtɪdli/ adv. 反复地
16. discover /dɪˈskʌvə(r)/ v. 发现
17. fear /fɪə(r)/ n. 害怕；担忧
18. damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ n. 损害；伤害
二、重点短语与固定搭配
1. learn to walk 学走路
2. sliding glass door 滑动玻璃门
3. drive sb. crazy 把某人逼疯
4. keep doing sth. 一直做某事
5. keep sb. from doing sth. 阻止某人做某事
6. tell a lie 撒谎
7. wake up 醒悟；醒来
8. no matter 无论，不管
9. do damage to 对…… 造成伤害
10. what if 倘若…… 会怎样
11. sort of 某种，有点儿
12. accept doing sth. 接受做某事
13. hesitate to do sth. 犹豫做某事
14. walk through 走过；顺利通过
15. begin to do sth. 开始做某事
16. tell sb. sth. 告诉某人某事
17. instead of 而不是
18. stare at 盯着
19. bottom line 底线；关键
