写给女儿 Leslie 的第二封信

Dear Leslie, 

Now daddy is sitting at a Starbucks, sipping a grande Americano and writing you the second letter.

You were born at 20:04, August 26th, so today you are four days old. Welcome to the world, girl!  

The past few days have been hectic. Mom and I have experienced a lot physically and mentally. Mom said she was mostly focusing on dealing with the pain, and dad spent some time thinking about a few matters. 

The ten hours we spent before delivery felt like an eternity. Mom was struggling with periodic bursts of pain, and dad was on her side giving her support. Having witnessed mom's suffering firsthand and feeling helpless, dad couldn't help asking questions and thinking about pain. It was not just mom that was suffering. In the same ward, a couple of other expectant mothers also expressed their pain, not in words, but in groans and screams. Dad prayed. 

Among the things that went through Dad's mind were: What is pain? What does it mean to us? What is human dignity? How to deal with pain physically, mentally, and spiritually? What does a humanizing medical system look like (not just for us, or the privileged, but for everyone)? How could architectural and interior design help people alleviate pain? Why should medical workers and caretakers be given the utmost respect? 

After the storm came the rainbow. Mom and I are happy that you were born healthy. We are lucky, we are blessed, and we are grateful. We promise we will give you the best possible education and support. 

Yet not everyone is lucky. Not every baby girl is as privileged as you are. Many girls around the world lack access to basic resources and education. Some are discriminated against simply because they are not boys. Mom and I want you to know the world is connected; everyone is connected. The suffering of others is our suffering too. 

Mom and I are overwhelmed by all the pouring, warm wishes we received after writing you the first letter. We have received ￥1865 from kind friends and blog readers. The sum has no impact on the quality of our life but can make a small difference in other baby girls' lives. That's why we decided to donate every penny plus another 20 dollars to Malala Fund, an NGO founded by Malala, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate (she was born in Pakistan in 1997) and an advocate for female education. 

Mom and I are strong believers in female education. We believe the world will be a much better place if more women have access to education. We hope you like the gift. 

Love, 

Dad

孟庆伟 Justin

个人微信 ID：justinqmeng

现象级英语联合创始人

初中英语 70 分（满分 100）

两次获雅思写作 8 分，口语 8 分

dad, husband, world citizen

---

题图：three-day-old Leslie

音乐：Ravel's Boléro. 这也是我给宝宝放的第一首曲子。这首曲子曾出现在日本导演黑泽明的电影《罗生门》中，也出现在了 2020 东京奥运会的开幕式中。希望宝宝可以多接触艺术，从音乐、文学、电影、话剧中吸收养分。

推荐阅读：