The tradition of embarrassing fathers is alive and kicking in Britain today a survey has revealed.
In fact British teenagers find their fathers so embarrassing that they stay an average of 6.7 metres away from them if they are out together in public, for fear of being seen by friends.
But maybe the kids should be more grateful as it transpires that the average father also does 627 ‘dad miles’ every year on weekends, ferrying teens to and from parties and other social gatherings, often very late into the evening.
為人父母關愛自己的孩子，是亙古不變的真理，但孩子因為爸媽的愛而感到尷尬、抬不起頭，也是一種另類的普遍現象。
英國最新一項調查顯示：「英國青少年平均與父親保持6.7公尺遠的距離。」
和老爸出門也害怕被朋友撞見，令孩子尷尬的囧爸已經越來越普及。
不過也許孩子們該心存感激的是老爸的無私付出，平均每個爸爸在週末可以好好放鬆的時光，都還需費神接送孩子們參加派對或各種社交活動，而且通常活動都會到很晚。
- Transpire (v.) 透露
- Ferry (v.) 運送
Two small boats ferry people back and forth.
兩隻小船往返載客。
- Gathering (n.) 聚會
One West London father of four, Jeremy Duncan, said that he had taken to answering the phone 'Duncan’s Taxis' after 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights in the certain knowledge that it would be a request for a lift from one of his teenage kids.
Jeremy said: 'I have noticed that my teenage kids tend to keep their distance when we’re out and about. 'I don’t take it personally because I remember doing it myself from time to time, as we all do. 'Maybe Father’s Day should be the one day in the year when we agree a bit of a temporary truce and call a halt to No Dads Land in public.'
其中一位受訪者，身為四個孩子的爸 Jeremy Duncan 就表示，每個禮拜從週五晚上十點過後開始，他就必須扮演好稱職的「好爸爸司機」角色，對於孩子的接送需求隨call隨到，不得異議。
「我注意到當我帶著孩子出門時，他們自然的跟我保持一段距離。我不認為只有我遇到這樣的狀況，畢竟，誰沒如此對待過自己的老爸呢？這是一種普遍現象。」Jeremy說道：「也許只有在每年的父親節，全天下的爸爸們才能得到合理的待遇，父親節限定『老爸禁止條款』在這天暫時封印解除。」
- Lift (n.) 順便搭載
He gave me a lift to the station.
他讓我搭便車到車站。
- About (adv.) 在四周；到處
She likes to walk about.
她喜愛四處走走。
- From time to time 偶爾 = now and then
I see Tom at the library from time to time.
我偶爾會在圖書館看見Tom。
- Truce (n.) 休戰
- Halt (n.) 暫停；終止
In an attempt to show the lack of appreciation father's usually receive, another father lists a selection of texts from his teenage children which include such gems as: 'Eggs, bacon, butter, bread. Tx', 'Waiting on cod,' 'Is there a meal of sorts?,' and 'Any chance of a lift?'.
Britain’s long-suffering fathers fall well behind their female counterparts in the thank you stakes as well.
Market data from the UK Greeting Card Association reveals that 22 million Father’s Day cards were sent in 2013, less than half the number sent to mothers on Mother’s Day.
Tim Fairs, director at Clinton’s, said: 'Father’s Day is the one day in the year devoted to dads.
'What we’re hoping is that kids will recognise that their dads have their hearts in the right place even if their behavior sometimes leaves a little to be desired.
'Mums, of course, are the biggest influence in most kids’ lives, but in many families dads are important ‘support staff’ that deserve a bit of thanks from time to time.'
另一位受訪爸爸提供了孩子發來的經典短訊內容：「蛋、培根、吐司塗奶油，謝謝。」(點早餐文)、「有可能來載我一程嗎？」(求搭便車文)‧‧‧你是否也曾做過同樣的要求？
據「英國賀卡協會」的統計資料顯示，去年全英共寄出兩千兩百萬張父親節卡片，而這個數字卻連母親節卡片數量的一半都不到，看來爸爸們不管是在「精神上」還是「物質上」的待遇都徹底遠不及媽媽們啊！
儘管母親一向是影響孩子最深的角色，父親仍是家庭中不可或缺的重要支柱，請別吝嗇或感到尷尬，偶爾也該用行動大方表示對老爸的愛和感謝。
- Of sorts 差勁的；劣等的
It was a meal of sorts , but nobody enjoyed it.
這一餐的口味只能算勉勉強強，沒有人覺得好吃。
- Counterpart (n.) 相同地位之人
Belgian officials are discussing this with their French counterparts.
比利時官員與法國同級官員正在進行討論。
Thing teenagers feel dads could do better 青少年希望老爸改進的地方
1. No dancing 不要跳舞
2. No singing in public 不要在公共場合唱歌
3. More care with clothing 穿衣品味
4. Better jokes or, ideally, no jokes 難笑的笑話
5. Not trying to be cool by using age inappropriate language 不要嘗試亂用年輕人的語言
Things teenagers would most praise fathers for 青少年認為老爸的優點
1. Lifts 專屬接送司機
2. The occasional fiver 偶然給予零用錢
3. Their technical knowhow and DIY 自己動手做的技術
4. Their relaxed attitude 放鬆的生活態度
5. Their readiness to have meals in front of the TV 吃飯配電視主義
- Fiver (n.) 五英鎊(鈔票)
- Readiness (n.) 準備就緒，願意
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