Task 3. The Promise

Ex. 1. Identifying aspects of communication. Read the story “The Promise” by W.S. Maugham and get ready to dwell on the main elements of the communicative episode described in the text.

1. Does the author and Lady Vermont belong to the same social class? How is it reflected in their conversation?

2. What topic did they choose for their conversation and why? Was it an appropriate one?

3. Did the author manage to hide his actual aim of communication? In her turn, did Lady Vermont manage to conceal her real feelings?

4. Analyse the conversational closing.

Ex. 2. Discussion. Express your opinion about the following. Which type of discourse does the conversation in the short story represent? Prove your point of view.

Ex. 3. Follow-up. Analyse the communicative situation described in the story from the point of view of speech acts, episodes, relationship between the participants, their life scripts and cultural pattern.

Task 4. A Happy Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom

Ex. 1. Identifying aspects of communication. Read the following magazine article and get ready to dwell on the main characteristics of the communicative phenomenon under consideration.

A Happy Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom

By D. P. Olsen

You made the decision to quit your job, but now you’ve discovered that being with your baby isn’t quite as easy as you expected. How to make a smooth transition from workingtoa happy life as a stay-at-home mom.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I remember getting off the train at the end of the workday and seeing women with kids waiting for their dads. The moms watched happily as the children greeted the men with smiles and hugs. That ritual seemed wonderful to me, and I couldn’t wait to be a stay-at-home mom.

Little did I know how difficult the transition from working to being at home would be. When my daughter was an in­fant, the mere thought of taking her to the train station at the end of the day exhausted me. Besides, it was usually dark ay the time my husband got home, and Caroline was in her pajamas, and I was conked out on the couch.

In retrospect, I realize that my expectations for stay-at-home motherhood were a little too romantic. I didn’t con­sider that I’d actually miss the structure of a workday and the company of my colleagues, I also didn’t realize how de­manding – and time-consuming – taking care of a baby full-time could be. That’s not to say I ever regretted my decision to quit my job: I believe that raising 2-year-old Caroline and 4-month-old Alexander is the most, important thing I can be doing right now and being home with them is de­finitely the right choice for me. But the transition would have been easier it I had been prepared for the challenges of the first difficult months. Here are: some of the issues that I and other moms struggled with – and how we have found happiness at home.

“Help! I’m lonely and bored!”

With days dictated by feed­ings, diapers, and naps. many women find that life with an infant can be iso­lating – and monotonous. “For a while, it seemed as if I was doing nothing but waving the same toys in my son’s face day after day,” says Rebecca Russo, of Red Bank, New Jersey, a former physical therapist and the mom of Joey, 18 months. Her feelings of boredom and loneliness lifted as soon as she found some activities for her­self and her son: Russo now partici­pates in a discussion group for new moms and takes a “Mommy-and-Me” swim class. “Those things have been a lifesaver.” she says.

Experts say that making new friends – or keeping in touch with old ones – can keep you from feel­ing frustrated. But its important to connect with people you enjoy being around – not merely women who have kids the same age as yours. “A lot of the moms I met after my daughter was born were obsessed with talking about their children all the time,” says Stacy Schreier Baum, a former recruiter and the mother of Samantha, 2, “I like talking about my daughter too, but I have plenty of other interests.”

The Richmond, Virginia, mom mentioned her concerns to some close friends, and they decided to put together a moms’ night out – no talking about kids allowed.

“I’m busy, but I don’t get very much done,”

Many women assume that: once they’re home, they’ll be able to keen their house clean and organized. Well, it’s possible – but only if you have a full-time babysitter or house­keeper. “I expected to have plenty of time to do the laundry, go grocery shopping, make meals, and keep the house in perfect shape,” says Rita Feitoti-Mitchell, of Chicago, a former teacher and the mother of Kyra, 2. “But my daughter needs attention. I’m busy, but I sometimes feel as though I’m not accomplishing much.”

Other moms are surprised that they don’t have as much quality time with their kids as they’d honed. “I thought we’d always be going to the park, or baking cookies, or doing craft projects,” says Beth Gance-Virkler, of Apalachin, New York, a former elemen­tary-school guidance coun­selor and the mom of Rusty, 5, Shelby, 4, and Avery, 18 months. “But there are plenty of days when we don’t do any­thing fun.”

According to Mary Quigley coauthor of And What Do You Do? When Women Choose to Stay Home, many women ex­pect to be Supermom when they’re home full-rime. “Then they discover how demanding taking care of a baby can be and are disappointed when they can’t accomplish everything they’d planned.” she says.

But experts emphasize that raising children is a tough job. and that women should cut themselves slack when it comes to domestic chores “Laundry can wait,” says Lisa Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychol­ogy at Columbia University Teachers College, in New York City. “You’re home to be a mother, not a maid.” It also helps to remember that being a good mother doesn’t mean providing your child with a crammed schedule of outings, entertainment, and activities: Your child benefits from your day-to-day presence – even if you re Joins; nothing at all.

“My husband and I are no longer equals.”

New moms are often surprised to discover that the power balance in their marriage shirts alter they quit their jobs. Couples who once shared household duties sometimes revert to a traditional distribution of chores. “The longer I was home, the more my husband started to expect of me, and before I knew it, I was doing practically everything around the house,” Maynard says.

Tracy Todd. Ph.D. a marriage and family therapist in Westminster. Colorado, says communication between spouses is key. “Men are often more willing to take on household duties if they know it will reduce stress and increase the amount of quality time they can spend with their wife.”

That’s what happened with May­nard, who brought up the issue with her husband. “We eventually re­negotiated who does which house­hold chores,” she says.

“I can’t slow down,”

Many new moms agree that the toughest challenge of at-home life is learning how to relax and ease into a different way of life. “I was so accus­tomed to always being fast and effi­cient at work,” says Jenny Roberts, of Glenview, Illinois, a former attorney and the mom of Abby, 5 and Katie, 3. “It took a while for me to not have a long list of things to get done around the house.”

Overtime, most women discover the pleasures of downtime. “I’ve learned to enjoy the little things – like sitting on the floor with my lads waiting for the cookies to bake,” says Roberts, “A few years ago, I couldn’t have imagined I’d be doing that.” Indeed, after an initial adjustment, I discovered that being an at-home mom was everything I’d expected it to be – and more. Now I truly ap­preciate the rhythm of my life, which revolves around playgroups, volun­teer activities, and stroller walks, in­stead of power lunches, meetings, and train schedules. And I’ve learned to savor every moment of this pre­cious time in my children’s lives.

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