14岁男生跳楼身亡真相曝光:夺走孩子命的,不是妈妈那两巴掌
发布时间:2020-09-22 21:22:34来源:树儿微刊
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WhenPaulJobswasmusteredoutoftheCoastGuardafterWorldWarII,hemadeawagerwithhiscrewmates.TheyhadarrivedinSanFrancisco,wheretheirshipwasdecommissioned,andPaulbetthathewouldfindhimselfawifewithintwoweeks.Hewasataut,tattooedenginemechanic,sixfeettall,withapassingresemblancetoJamesDean.Butitwasn’thislooksthatgothimadatewithClaraHagopian,asweet-humoreddaughterofArmenianimmigrants.Itwasthefactthatheandhisfriendshadacar,unlikethegroupshehadoriginallyplannedtogooutwiththatevening.Tendayslater,inMarch1946,PaulgotengagedtoClaraandwonhiswager.Itwouldturnouttobeahappymarriage,onethatlasteduntildeathpartedthemmorethanfortyyearslater.PaulReinholdJobshadbeenraisedonadairyfarminGermantown,Wisconsin.Eventhoughhisfatherwasanalcoholicandsometimesabusive,Paulendedupwithagentleandcalmdispositionunderhisleatheryexterior.Afterdroppingoutofhighschool,hewanderedthroughtheMidwestpickingupworkasamechanicuntil,atagenineteen,hejoinedtheCoastGuard,eventhoughhedidn’tknowhowtoswim.HewasdeployedontheUSSGeneralM.C.MeigsandspentmuchofthewarferryingtroopstoItalyforGeneralPatton.Histalentasamachinistandfiremanearnedhimcommendations,butheoccasionallyfoundhimselfinminortroubleandneverroseabovetherankofseaman.ClarawasborninNewJersey,whereherparentshadlandedafterfleeingtheTurksinArmenia,andtheymovedtotheMissionDistrictofSanFranciscowhenshewasachild.Shehadasecretthatsherarelymentionedtoanyone:Shehadbeenmarriedbefore,butherhusbandhadbeenkilledinthewar.SowhenshemetPaulJobsonthatfirstdate,shewasprimedtostartanewlife.Likemanywholivedthroughthewar,theyhadexperiencedenoughexcitementthat,whenitwasover,theydesiredsimplytosettledown,raiseafamily,andleadalesseventfullife.Theyhadlittlemoney,sotheymovedtoWisconsinandlivedwithPaul’sparentsforafewyears,thenheadedforIndiana,wherehegotajobasamachinistforInternationalHarvester.Hispassionwastinkeringwitholdcars,andhemademoneyinhissparetimebuying,restoring,andsellingthem.Eventuallyhequithisdayjobtobecomeafull-timeusedcarsalesman.Clara,however,lovedSanFrancisco,andin1952sheconvincedherhusbandtomovebackthere.TheygotanapartmentintheSunsetDistrictfacingthePacific,justsouthofGoldenGatePark,andhetookajobworkingforafinancecompanyasa“repoman,”pickingthelocksofcarswhoseownershadn’tpaidtheirloansandrepossessingthem.Healsobought,repaired,andsoldsomeofthecars,makingadecentenoughlivingintheprocess.Therewas,however,somethingmissingintheirlives.Theywantedchildren,butClarahadsufferedanectopicpregnancy,inwhichthefertilizedeggwasimplantedinafallopiantuberatherthantheuterus,andshehadbeenunabletohaveany.Soby1955,afternineyearsofmarriage,theywerelookingtoadoptachild.LikePaulJobs,JoanneSchieblewasfromaruralWisconsinfamilyofGermanheritage.Herfather,ArthurSchieble,hadimmigratedtotheoutskirtsofGreenBay,whereheandhiswifeownedaminkfarmanddabbledsuccessfullyinvariousotherbusinesses,includingrealestateandphotoengraving.Hewasverystrict,especiallyregardinghisdaughter’srelationships,andhehadstronglydisapprovedofherfirstlove,anartistwhowasnotaCatholic.ThusitwasnosurprisethathethreatenedtocutJoanneoffcompletelywhen,asagraduatestudentattheUniversityofWisconsin,shefellinlovewithAbdulfattah“John”Jandali,aMuslimteachingassistantfromSyria.JandaliwastheyoungestofninechildreninaprominentSyrianfamily.Hisfatherownedoilrefineriesandmultipleotherbusinesses,withlargeholdingsinDamascusandHoms,andatonepointprettymuchcontrolledthepriceofwheatintheregion.Hismother,helatersaid,wasa“traditionalMuslimwoman”whowasa“conservative,obedienthousewife.”LiketheSchieblefamily,theJandalisputapremiumoneducation.AbdulfattahwassenttoaJesuitboardingschool,eventhoughhewasMuslim,andhegotanundergraduatedegreeattheAmericanUniversityinBeirutbeforeenteringtheUniversityofWisconsintopursueadoctoraldegreeinpoliticalscience.Inthesummerof1954,JoannewentwithAbdulfattahtoSyria.TheyspenttwomonthsinHoms,whereshelearnedfromhisfamilytocookSyriandishes.WhentheyreturnedtoWisconsinshediscoveredthatshewaspregnant.Theywerebothtwenty-three,buttheydecidednottogetmarried.Herfatherwasdyingatthetime,andhehadthreatenedtodisownherifshewedAbdulfattah.NorwasabortionaneasyoptioninasmallCatholiccommunity.Soinearly1955,JoannetraveledtoSanFrancisco,whereshewastakenintothecareofakindlydoctorwhoshelteredunwedmothers,deliveredtheirbabies,andquietlyarrangedclosedadoptions.Joannehadonerequirement:Herchildmustbeadoptedbycollegegraduates.Sothedoctorarrangedforthebabytobeplacedwithalawyerandhiswife.Butwhenaboywasborn—onFebruary24,1955—thedesignatedcoupledecidedthattheywantedagirlandbackedout.Thusitwasthattheboybecamethesonnotofalawyerbutofahighschooldropoutwithapassionformechanicsandhissalt-of-the-earthwifewhowasworkingasabookkeeper.PaulandClaranamedtheirnewbabyStevenPaulJobs.WhenJoannefoundoutthatherbabyhadbeenplacedwithacouplewhohadnotevengraduatedfromhighschool,sherefusedtosigntheadoptionpapers.Thestandofflastedweeks,evenafterthebabyhadsettledintotheJobshousehold.EventuallyJoannerelented,withthestipulationthatthecouplepromise—indeedsignapledge—tofundasavingsaccounttopayfortheboy’scollegeeducation.TherewasanotherreasonthatJoannewasbalkyaboutsigningtheadoptionpapers.Herfatherwasabouttodie,andsheplannedtomarryJandalisoonafter.Sheheldouthope,shewouldlatertellfamilymembers,sometimestearingupatthememory,thatoncetheyweremarried,shecouldgettheirbabyboyback.ArthurSchieblediedinAugust1955,aftertheadoptionwasfinalized.JustafterChristmasthatyear,JoanneandAbdulfattahweremarriedinSt.PhiliptheApostleCatholicChurchinGreenBay.HegothisPhDininternationalpoliticsthenextyear,andthentheyhadanotherchild,agirlnamedMona.AftersheandJandalidivorcedin1962,Joanneembarkedonadreamyandperipateticlifethatherdaughter,whogrewuptobecometheacclaimednovelistMonaSimpson,wouldcaptureinherbookAnywherebutHere.BecauseSteve’sadoptionhadbeenclosed,itwouldbetwentyyearsbeforetheywouldallfindeachother.SteveJobsknewfromanearlyagethathewasadopted.“Myparentswereveryopenwithmeaboutthat,”herecalled.Hehadavividmemoryofsittingonthelawnofhishouse,whenhewassixorsevenyearsold,tellingthegirlwholivedacrossthestreet.“Sodoesthatmeanyourrealparentsdidn’twantyou?”thegirlasked.“Lightningboltswentoffinmyhead,”accordingtoJobs.“Irememberrunningintothehouse,crying.Andmyparentssaid,‘No,youhavetounderstand.’Theywereveryseriousandlookedmestraightintheeye.Theysaid,‘Wespecificallypickedyouout.’Bothofmyparentssaidthatandrepeateditslowlyforme.Andtheyputanemphasisoneverywordinthatsentence.”Abandoned.Chosen.Special.ThoseconceptsbecamepartofwhoJobswasandhowheregardedhimself.Hisclosestfriendsthinkthattheknowledgethathewasgivenupatbirthleftsomescars.“Ithinkhisdesireforcompletecontrolofwhateverhemakesderivesdirectlyfromhispersonalityandthefactthathewasabandonedatbirth,”saidonelongtimecolleague,DelYocam.“Hewantstocontrolhisenvironment,andheseestheproductasanextensionofhimself.”GregCalhoun,whobecameclosetoJobsrightaftercollege,sawanothereffect.“Stevetalkedtomealotaboutbeingabandonedandthepainthatcaused,”hesaid.“Itmadehimindependent.Hefollowedthebeatofadifferentdrummer,andthatcamefrombeinginadifferentworldthanhewasborninto.”Laterinlife,whenhewasthesameagehisbiologicalfatherhadbeenwhenheabandonedhim,Jobswouldfatherandabandonachildofhisown.(Heeventuallytookresponsibilityforher.)ChrisannBrennan,themotherofthatchild,saidthatbeingputupforadoptionleftJobs“fullofbrokenglass,”andithelpstoexplainsomeofhisbehavior.“Hewhoisabandonedisanabandoner,”shesaid.AndyHertzfeld,whoworkedwithJobsatAppleintheearly1980s,isamongthefewwhoremainedclosetobothBrennanandJobs.“ThekeyquestionaboutSteveiswhyhecan’tcontrolhimselfattimesfrombeingsoreflexivelycruelandharmfultosomepeople,”hesaid.“Thatgoesbacktobeingabandonedatbirth.TherealunderlyingproblemwasthethemeofabandonmentinSteve’slife.”Jobsdismissedthis.“There’ssomenotionthatbecauseIwasabandoned,IworkedveryhardsoIcoulddowellandmakemyparentswishtheyhadmeback,orsomesuchnonsense,butthat’sridiculous,”heinsisted.“KnowingIwasadoptedmayhavemademefeelmoreindependent,butIhaveneverfeltabandoned.I’vealwaysfeltspecial.Myparentsmademefeelspecial.”HewouldlaterbristlewheneveranyonereferredtoPaulandClaraJobsashis“adoptive”parentsorimpliedthattheywerenothis“real”parents.“Theyweremyparents1,000%,”hesaid.Whenspeakingabouthisbiologicalparents,ontheotherhand,hewascurt:“Theyweremyspermandeggbank.That’snotharsh,it’sjustthewayitwas,aspermbankthing,nothingmore.”SiliconValleyThechildhoodthatPaulandClaraJobscreatedfortheirnewsonwas,inmanyways,astereotypeofthelate1950s.WhenStevewastwotheyadoptedagirltheynamedPatty,andthreeyearslatertheymovedtoatracthouseinthesuburbs.ThefinancecompanywherePaulworkedasarepoman,CIT,hadtransferredhimdowntoitsPaloAltooffice,buthecouldnotaffordtolivethere,sotheylandedinasubdivisioninMountainView,alessexpensivetownjusttothesouth.TherePaultriedtopassalonghisloveofmechanicsandcars.“Steve,thisisyourworkbenchnow,”hesaidashemarkedoffasectionofthetableintheirgarage.Jobsrememberedbeingimpressedbyhisfather’sfocusoncraftsmanship.“Ithoughtmydad’ssenseofdesignwasprettygood,”hesaid,“becauseheknewhowtobuildanything.Ifweneededacabinet,hewouldbuildit.Whenhebuiltourfence,hegavemeahammersoIcouldworkwithhim.”FiftyyearslaterthefencestillsurroundsthebackandsideyardsofthehouseinMountainView.AsJobsshoweditofftome,hecaressedthestockadepanelsandrecalledalessonthathisfatherimplanteddeeplyinhim.Itwasimportant,hisfathersaid,tocraftthebacksofcabinetsandfencesproperly,eventhoughtheywerehidden.“Heloveddoingthingsright.Heevencaredaboutthelookofthepartsyoucouldn’tsee.”Hisfathercontinuedtorefurbishandresellusedcars,andhefestoonedthegaragewithpicturesofhisfavorites.Hewouldpointoutthedetailingofthedesigntohisson:thelines,thevents,thechrome,thetrimoftheseats.Afterworkeachday,hewouldchangeintohisdungareesandretreattothegarage,oftenwithStevetaggingalong.“IfiguredIcouldgethimnaileddownwithalittlemechanicalability,buthereallywasn’tinterestedingettinghishandsdirty,”Paullaterrecalled.“Heneverreallycaredtoomuchaboutmechanicalthings.”“Iwasn’tthatintofixingcars,”Jobsadmitted.“ButIwaseagertohangoutwithmydad.”Evenashewasgrowingmoreawarethathehadbeenadopted,hewasbecomingmoreattachedtohisfather.Onedaywhenhewasabouteight,hediscoveredaphotographofhisfatherfromhistimeintheCoastGuard.“He’sintheengineroom,andhe’sgothisshirtoffandlookslikeJamesDean.ItwasoneofthoseOhwowmomentsforakid.Wow,oooh,myparentswereactuallyonceveryyoungandreallygood-looking.”Throughcars,hisfathergaveStevehisfirstexposuretoelectronics.“Mydaddidnothaveadeepunderstandingofelectronics,buthe’dencountereditalotinautomobilesandotherthingshewouldfix.Heshowedmetherudimentsofelectronics,andIgotveryinterestedinthat.”Evenmoreinterestingwerethetripstoscavengeforparts.“Everyweekend,there’dbeajunkyardtrip.We’dbelookingforagenerator,acarburetor,allsortsofcomponents.”Herememberedwatchinghisfathernegotiateatthecounter.“Hewasagoodbargainer,becauseheknewbetterthantheguysatthecounterwhatthepartsshouldcost.”Thishelpedfulfillthepledgehisparentsmadewhenhewasadopted.“Mycollegefundcamefrommydadpaying$50foraFordFalconorsomeotherbeat-upcarthatdidn’trun,workingonitforafewweeks,andsellingitfor$250—andnottellingtheIRS.”TheJobses’houseandtheothersintheirneighborhoodwerebuiltbytherealestatedeveloperJosephEichler,whosecompanyspawnedmorethaneleventhousandhomesinvariousCaliforniasubdivisionsbetween1950and1974.InspiredbyFrankLloydWright’svisionofsimplemodernhomesfortheAmerican“everyman,”Eichlerbuiltinexpensivehousesthatfeaturedfloor-to-ceilingglasswalls,openfloorplans,exposedpost-and-beamconstruction,concreteslabfloors,andlotsofslidingglassdoors.“Eichlerdidagreatthing,”Jobssaidononeofourwalksaroundtheneighborhood.“Hishousesweresmartandcheapandgood.Theybroughtcleandesignandsimpletastetolower-incomepeople.Theyhadawesomelittlefeatures,likeradiantheatinginthefloors.Youputcarpetonthem,andwehadnicetoastyfloorswhenwewerekids.”JobssaidthathisappreciationforEichlerhomesinstilledinhimapassionformakingnicelydesignedproductsforthemassmarket.“Iloveitwhenyoucanbringreallygreatdesignandsimplecapabilitytosomethingthatdoesn’tcostmuch,”hesaidashepointedoutthecleaneleganceofthehouses.“ItwastheoriginalvisionforApple.That’swhatwetriedtodowiththefirstMac.That’swhatwedidwiththeiPod.”AcrossthestreetfromtheJobsfamilylivedamanwhohadbecomesuccessfulasarealestateagent.“Hewasn’tthatbright,”Jobsrecalled,“butheseemedtobemakingafortune.Somydadthought,‘Icandothat.’Heworkedsohard,Iremember.Hetookthesenightclasses,passedthelicensetest,andgotintorealestate.Thenthebottomfelloutofthemarket.”Asaresult,thefamilyfounditselffinanciallystrappedforayearorsowhileStevewasinelementaryschool.HismothertookajobasabookkeeperforVarianAssociates,acompanythatmadescientificinstruments,andtheytookoutasecondmortgage.Onedayhisfourth-gradeteacheraskedhim,“Whatisityoudon’tunderstandabouttheuniverse?”Jobsreplied,“Idon’tunderstandwhyallofasuddenmydadissobroke.”Hewasproudthathisfatherneveradoptedaservileattitudeorslickstylethatmayhavemadehimabettersalesman.“Youhadtosuckuptopeopletosellrealestate,andhewasn’tgoodatthatanditwasn’tinhisnature.Iadmiredhimforthat.”PaulJobswentbacktobeingamechanic.Hisfatherwascalmandgentle,traitsthathissonlaterpraisedmorethanemulated.Hewasalsoresolute.Jobsdescribedoneexample:NearbywasanengineerwhowasworkingatWestinghouse.Hewasasingleguy,beatniktype.Hehadagirlfriend.Shewouldbabysitmesometimes.Bothmyparentsworked,soIwouldcomehererightafterschoolforacoupleofhours.Hewouldgetdrunkandhitheracoupleoftimes.Shecameoveronenight,scaredoutofherwits,andhecameoverdrunk,andmydadstoodhimdown—saying“She’shere,butyou’renotcomingin.”Hestoodrightthere.Weliketothinkeverythingwasidyllicinthe1950s,butthisguywasoneofthoseengineerswhohadmessed-uplives.Whatmadetheneighborhooddifferentfromthethousandsofotherspindly-treesubdivisionsacrossAmericawasthateventhene’er-do-wellstendedtobeengineers.“Whenwemovedhere,therewereapricotandplumorchardsonallofthesecorners,”Jobsrecalled.“Butitwasbeginningtoboombecauseofmilitaryinvestment.”Hesoakedupthehistoryofthevalleyanddevelopedayearningtoplayhisownrole.EdwinLandofPolaroidlatertoldhimaboutbeingaskedbyEisenhowertohelpbuildtheU-2spyplanecamerastoseehowrealtheSovietthreatwas.ThefilmwasdroppedincanistersandreturnedtotheNASAAmesResearchCenterinSunnyvale,notfarfromwhereJobslived.“ThefirstcomputerterminalIeversawwaswhenmydadbroughtmetotheAmesCenter,”hesaid.“Ifelltotallyinlovewithit.”Otherdefensecontractorssproutednearbyduringthe1950s.TheLockheedMissilesandSpaceDivision,whichbuiltsubmarine-launchedballisticmissiles,wasfoundedin1956nexttotheNASACenter;bythetimeJobsmovedtotheareafouryearslater,itemployedtwentythousandpeople.Afewhundredyardsaway,Westinghousebuiltfacilitiesthatproducedtubesandelectricaltransformersforthemissilesystems.“Youhadallthesemilitarycompaniesonthecuttingedge,”herecalled.“Itwasmysteriousandhigh-techandmadelivinghereveryexciting.”Inthewakeofthedefenseindustriestherearoseaboomingeconomybasedontechnology.Itsrootsstretchedbackto1938,whenDavidPackardandhisnewwifemovedintoahouseinPaloAltothathadashedwherehisfriendBillHewlettwassoonensconced.Thehousehadagarage—anappendagethatwouldprovebothusefulandiconicinthevalley—inwhichtheytinkeredarounduntiltheyhadtheirfirstproduct,anaudiooscillator.Bythe1950s,Hewlett-Packardwasafast-growingcompanymakingtechnicalinstruments.Fortunatelytherewasaplacenearbyforentrepreneurswhohadoutgrowntheirgarages.Inamovethatwouldhelptransformtheareaintothecradleofthetechrevolution,StanfordUniversity’sdeanofengineering,FrederickTerman,createdaseven-hundred-acreindustrialparkonuniversitylandforprivatecompaniesthatcouldcommercializetheideasofhisstudents.ItsfirsttenantwasVarianAssociates,whereClaraJobsworked.“Termancameupwiththisgreatideathatdidmorethananythingtocausethetechindustrytogrowuphere,”Jobssaid.BythetimeJobswasten,HPhadninethousandemployeesandwastheblue-chipcompanywhereeveryengineerseekingfinancialstabilitywantedtowork.Themostimportanttechnologyfortheregion’sgrowthwas,ofcourse,thesemiconductor.WilliamShockley,whohadbeenoneoftheinventorsofthetransistoratBellLabsinNewJersey,movedouttoMountainViewand,in1956,startedacompanytobuildtransistorsusingsiliconratherthanthemoreexpensivegermaniumthatwasthencommonlyused.ButShockleybecameincreasinglyerraticandabandonedhissilicontransistorproject,whichledeightofhisengineers—mostnotablyRobertNoyceandGordonMoore—tobreakawaytoformFairchildSemiconductor.Thatcompanygrewtotwelvethousandemployees,butitfragmentedin1968,whenNoycelostapowerstruggletobecomeCEO.HetookGordonMooreandfoundedacompanythattheycalledIntegratedElectronicsCorporation,whichtheysoonsmartlyabbreviatedtoIntel.TheirthirdemployeewasAndrewGrove,wholaterwouldgrowthecompanybyshiftingitsfocusfrommemorychipstomicroprocessors.Withinafewyearstherewouldbemorethanfiftycompaniesintheareamakingsemiconductors.TheexponentialgrowthofthisindustrywascorrelatedwiththephenomenonfamouslydiscoveredbyMoore,whoin1965drewagraphofthespeedofintegratedcircuits,basedonthenumberoftransistorsthatcouldbeplacedonachip,andshowedthatitdoubledabouteverytwoyears,atrajectorythatcouldbeexpectedtocontinue.Thiswasreaffirmedin1971,whenIntelwasabletoetchacompletecentralprocessingunitontoonechip,theIntel4004,whichwasdubbeda“microprocessor.”Moore’sLawhasheldgenerallytruetothisday,anditsreliableprojectionofperformancetopriceallowedtwogenerationsofyoungentrepreneurs,includingSteveJobsandBillGates,tocreatecostprojectionsfortheirforward-leaningproducts.ThechipindustrygavetheregionanewnamewhenDonHoefler,acolumnistfortheweeklytradepaperElectronicNews,beganaseriesinJanuary1971entitled“SiliconValleyUSA.”Theforty-mileSantaClaraValley,whichstretchesfromSouthSanFranciscothroughPaloAltotoSanJose,hasasitscommercialbackboneElCaminoReal,theroyalroadthatonceconnectedCalifornia’stwenty-onemissionchurchesandisnowabustlingavenuethatconnectscompaniesandstartupsaccountingforathirdoftheventurecapitalinvestmentintheUnitedStateseachyear.“Growingup,Igotinspiredbythehistoryoftheplace,”Jobssaid.“Thatmademewanttobeapartofit.”Likemostkids,hebecameinfusedwiththepassionsofthegrown-upsaroundhim.“Mostofthedadsintheneighborhooddidreallyneatstuff,likephotovoltaicsandbatteriesandradar,”Jobsrecalled.“Igrewupinaweofthatstuffandaskingpeopleaboutit.”Themostimportantoftheseneighbors,LarryLang,livedsevendoorsaway.“HewasmymodelofwhatanHPengineerwassupposedtobe:abighamradiooperator,hard-coreelectronicsguy,”Jobsrecalled.“Hewouldbringmestufftoplaywith.”AswewalkeduptoLang’soldhouse,Jobspointedtothedriveway.“Hetookacarbonmicrophoneandabatteryandaspeaker,andheputitonthisdriveway.Hehadmetalkintothecarbonmikeanditamplifiedoutofthespeaker.”Jobshadbeentaughtbyhisfatherthatmicrophonesalwaysrequiredanelectronicamplifier.“SoIracedhome,andItoldmydadthathewaswrong.”“No,itneedsanamplifier,”hisfatherassuredhim.WhenSteveprotestedotherwise,hisfathersaidhewascrazy.“Itcan’tworkwithoutanamplifier.There’ssometrick.”“Ikeptsayingnotomydad,tellinghimhehadtoseeit,andfinallyheactuallywalkeddownwithmeandsawit.Andhesaid,‘WellI’llbeabatoutofhell.’”Jobsrecalledtheincidentvividlybecauseitwashisfirstrealizationthathisfatherdidnotknoweverything.Thenamoredisconcertingdiscoverybegantodawnonhim:Hewassmarterthanhisparents.Hehadalwaysadmiredhisfather’scompetenceandsavvy.“Hewasnotaneducatedman,butIhadalwaysthoughthewasprettydamnsmart.Hedidn’treadmuch,buthecoulddoalot.Almosteverythingmechanical,hecouldfigureitout.”Yetthecarbonmicrophoneincident,Jobssaid,beganajarringprocessofrealizingthathewasinfactmorecleverandquickthanhisparents.“Itwasaverybigmomentthat’sburnedintomymind.WhenIrealizedthatIwassmarterthanmyparents,Ifelttremendousshameforhavingthoughtthat.Iwillneverforgetthatmoment.”Thisdiscovery,helatertoldfriends,alongwiththefactthathewasadopted,madehimfeelapart—detachedandseparate—frombothhisfamilyandtheworld.Anotherlayerofawarenessoccurredsoonafter.Notonlydidhediscoverthathewasbrighterthanhisparents,buthediscoveredthattheyknewthis.PaulandClaraJobswerelovingparents,andtheywerewillingtoadapttheirlivestosuitasonwhowasverysmart—andalsowillful.Theywouldgotogreatlengthstoaccommodatehim.AndsoonStevediscoveredthisfactaswell.“Bothmyparentsgotme.TheyfeltalotofresponsibilityoncetheysensedthatIwasspecial.Theyfoundwaystokeepfeedingmestuffandputtingmeinbetterschools.Theywerewillingtodefertomyneeds.”Sohegrewupnotonlywithasenseofhavingoncebeenabandoned,butalsowithasensethathewasspecial.Inhisownmind,thatwasmoreimportantintheformationofhispersonality.SchoolEvenbeforeJobsstartedelementaryschool,hismotherhadtaughthimhowtoread.This,however,ledtosomeproblemsoncehegottoschool.“Iwaskindofboredforthefirstfewyears
WhenPaulJobswasmusteredoutoftheCoastGuardafterWorldWarII,hemadeawagerwithhiscrewmates.TheyhadarrivedinSanFrancisco,wheretheirshipwasdecommissioned,andPaulbetthathewouldfindhimselfawifewithintwoweeks.Hewasataut,tattooedenginemechanic,sixfeettall,withapassingresemblancetoJamesDean.Butitwasn’thislooksthatgothimadatewithClaraHagopian,asweet-humoreddaughterofArmenianimmigrants.Itwasthefactthatheandhisfriendshadacar,unlikethegroupshehadoriginallyplannedtogooutwiththatevening.Tendayslater,inMarch1946,PaulgotengagedtoClaraandwonhiswager.Itwouldturnouttobeahappymarriage,onethatlasteduntildeathpartedthemmorethanfortyyearslater.PaulReinholdJobshadbeenraisedonadairyfarminGermantown,Wisconsin.Eventhoughhisfatherwasanalcoholicandsometimesabusive,Paulendedupwithagentleandcalmdispositionunderhisleatheryexterior.Afterdroppingoutofhighschool,hewanderedthroughtheMidwestpickingupworkasamechanicuntil,atagenineteen,hejoinedtheCoastGuard,eventhoughhedidn’tknowhowtoswim.HewasdeployedontheUSSGeneralM.C.MeigsandspentmuchofthewarferryingtroopstoItalyforGeneralPatton.Histalentasamachinistandfiremanearnedhimcommendations,butheoccasionallyfoundhimselfinminortroubleandneverroseabovetherankofseaman.ClarawasborninNewJersey,whereherparentshadlandedafterfleeingtheTurksinArmenia,andtheymovedtotheMissionDistrictofSanFranciscowhenshewasachild.Shehadasecretthatsherarelymentionedtoanyone:Shehadbeenmarriedbefore,butherhusbandhadbeenkilledinthewar.SowhenshemetPaulJobsonthatfirstdate,shewasprimedtostartanewlife.Likemanywholivedthroughthewar,theyhadexperiencedenoughexcitementthat,whenitwasover,theydesiredsimplytosettledown,raiseafamily,andleadalesseventfullife.Theyhadlittlemoney,sotheymovedtoWisconsinandlivedwithPaul’sparentsforafewyears,thenheadedforIndiana,wherehegotajobasamachinistforInternationalHarvester.Hispassionwastinkeringwitholdcars,andhemademoneyinhissparetimebuying,restoring,andsellingthem.Eventuallyhequithisdayjobtobecomeafull-timeusedcarsalesman.Clara,however,lovedSanFrancisco,andin1952sheconvincedherhusbandtomovebackthere.TheygotanapartmentintheSunsetDistrictfacingthePacific,justsouthofGoldenGatePark,andhetookajobworkingforafinancecompanyasa“repoman,”pickingthelocksofcarswhoseownershadn’tpaidtheirloansandrepossessingthem.Healsobought,repaired,andsoldsomeofthecars,makingadecentenoughlivingintheprocess.Therewas,however,somethingmissingintheirlives.Theywantedchildren,butClarahadsufferedanectopicpregnancy,inwhichthefertilizedeggwasimplantedinafallopiantuberatherthantheuterus,andshehadbeenunabletohaveany.Soby1955,afternineyearsofmarriage,theywerelookingtoadoptachild.LikePaulJobs,JoanneSchieblewasfromaruralWisconsinfamilyofGermanheritage.Herfather,ArthurSchieble,hadimmigratedtotheoutskirtsofGreenBay,whereheandhiswifeownedaminkfarmanddabbledsuccessfullyinvariousotherbusinesses,includingrealestateandphotoengraving.Hewasverystrict,especiallyregardinghisdaughter’srelationships,andhehadstronglydisapprovedofherfirstlove,anartistwhowasnotaCatholic.ThusitwasnosurprisethathethreatenedtocutJoanneoffcompletelywhen,asagraduatestudentattheUniversityofWisconsin,shefellinlovewithAbdulfattah“John”Jandali,aMuslimteachingassistantfromSyria.JandaliwastheyoungestofninechildreninaprominentSyrianfamily.Hisfatherownedoilrefineriesandmultipleotherbusinesses,withlargeholdingsinDamascusandHoms,andatonepointprettymuchcontrolledthepriceofwheatintheregion.Hismother,helatersaid,wasa“traditionalMuslimwoman”whowasa“conservative,obedienthousewife.”LiketheSchieblefamily,theJandalisputapremiumoneducation.AbdulfattahwassenttoaJesuitboardingschool,eventhoughhewasMuslim,andhegotanundergraduatedegreeattheAmericanUniversityinBeirutbeforeenteringtheUniversityofWisconsintopursueadoctoraldegreeinpoliticalscience.Inthesummerof1954,JoannewentwithAbdulfattahtoSyria.TheyspenttwomonthsinHoms,whereshelearnedfromhisfamilytocookSyriandishes.WhentheyreturnedtoWisconsinshediscoveredthatshewaspregnant.Theywerebothtwenty-three,buttheydecidednottogetmarried.Herfatherwasdyingatthetime,andhehadthreatenedtodisownherifshewedAbdulfattah.NorwasabortionaneasyoptioninasmallCatholiccommunity.Soinearly1955,JoannetraveledtoSanFrancisco,whereshewastakenintothecareofakindlydoctorwhoshelteredunwedmothers,deliveredtheirbabies,andquietlyarrangedclosedadoptions.Joannehadonerequirement:Herchildmustbeadoptedbycollegegraduates.Sothedoctorarrangedforthebabytobeplacedwithalawyerandhiswife.Butwhenaboywasborn—onFebruary24,1955—thedesignatedcoupledecidedthattheywantedagirlandbackedout.Thusitwasthattheboybecamethesonnotofalawyerbutofahighschooldropoutwithapassionformechanicsandhissalt-of-the-earthwifewhowasworkingasabookkeeper.PaulandClaranamedtheirnewbabyStevenPaulJobs.WhenJoannefoundoutthatherbabyhadbeenplacedwithacouplewhohadnotevengraduatedfromhighschool,sherefusedtosigntheadoptionpapers.Thestandofflastedweeks,evenafterthebabyhadsettledintotheJobshousehold.EventuallyJoannerelented,withthestipulationthatthecouplepromise—indeedsignapledge—tofundasavingsaccounttopayfortheboy’scollegeeducation.TherewasanotherreasonthatJoannewasbalkyaboutsigningtheadoptionpapers.Herfatherwasabouttodie,andsheplannedtomarryJandalisoonafter.Sheheldouthope,shewouldlatertellfamilymembers,sometimestearingupatthememory,thatoncetheyweremarried,shecouldgettheirbabyboyback.ArthurSchieblediedinAugust1955,aftertheadoptionwasfinalized.JustafterChristmasthatyear,JoanneandAbdulfattahweremarriedinSt.PhiliptheApostleCatholicChurchinGreenBay.HegothisPhDininternationalpoliticsthenextyear,andthentheyhadanotherchild,agirlnamedMona.AftersheandJandalidivorcedin1962,Joanneembarkedonadreamyandperipateticlifethatherdaughter,whogrewuptobecometheacclaimednovelistMonaSimpson,wouldcaptureinherbookAnywherebutHere.BecauseSteve’sadoptionhadbeenclosed,itwouldbetwentyyearsbeforetheywouldallfindeachother.SteveJobsknewfromanearlyagethathewasadopted.“Myparentswereveryopenwithmeaboutthat,”herecalled.Hehadavividmemoryofsittingonthelawnofhishouse,whenhewassixorsevenyearsold,tellingthegirlwholivedacrossthestreet.“Sodoesthatmeanyourrealparentsdidn’twantyou?”thegirlasked.“Lightningboltswentoffinmyhead,”accordingtoJobs.“Irememberrunningintothehouse,crying.Andmyparentssaid,‘No,youhavetounderstand.’Theywereveryseriousandlookedmestraightintheeye.Theysaid,‘Wespecificallypickedyouout.’Bothofmyparentssaidthatandrepeateditslowlyforme.Andtheyputanemphasisoneverywordinthatsentence.”Abandoned.Chosen.Special.ThoseconceptsbecamepartofwhoJobswasandhowheregardedhimself.Hisclosestfriendsthinkthattheknowledgethathewasgivenupatbirthleftsomescars.“Ithinkhisdesireforcompletecontrolofwhateverhemakesderivesdirectlyfromhispersonalityandthefactthathewasabandonedatbirth,”saidonelongtimecolleague,DelYocam.“Hewantstocontrolhisenvironment,andheseestheproductasanextensionofhimself.”GregCalhoun,whobecameclosetoJobsrightaftercollege,sawanothereffect.“Stevetalkedtomealotaboutbeingabandonedandthepainthatcaused,”hesaid.“Itmadehimindependent.Hefollowedthebeatofadifferentdrummer,andthatcamefrombeinginadifferentworldthanhewasborninto.”Laterinlife,whenhewasthesameagehisbiologicalfatherhadbeenwhenheabandonedhim,Jobswouldfatherandabandonachildofhisown.(Heeventuallytookresponsibilityforher.)ChrisannBrennan,themotherofthatchild,saidthatbeingputupforadoptionleftJobs“fullofbrokenglass,”andithelpstoexplainsomeofhisbehavior.“Hewhoisabandonedisanabandoner,”shesaid.AndyHertzfeld,whoworkedwithJobsatAppleintheearly1980s,isamongthefewwhoremainedclosetobothBrennanandJobs.“ThekeyquestionaboutSteveiswhyhecan’tcontrolhimselfattimesfrombeingsoreflexivelycruelandharmfultosomepeople,”hesaid.“Thatgoesbacktobeingabandonedatbirth.TherealunderlyingproblemwasthethemeofabandonmentinSteve’slife.”Jobsdismissedthis.“There’ssomenotionthatbecauseIwasabandoned,IworkedveryhardsoIcoulddowellandmakemyparentswishtheyhadmeback,orsomesuchnonsense,butthat’sridiculous,”heinsisted.“KnowingIwasadoptedmayhavemademefeelmoreindependent,butIhaveneverfeltabandoned.I’vealwaysfeltspecial.Myparentsmademefeelspecial.”HewouldlaterbristlewheneveranyonereferredtoPaulandClaraJobsashis“adoptive”parentsorimpliedthattheywerenothis“real”parents.“Theyweremyparents1,000%,”hesaid.Whenspeakingabouthisbiologicalparents,ontheotherhand,hewascurt:“Theyweremyspermandeggbank.That’snotharsh,it’sjustthewayitwas,aspermbankthing,nothingmore.”SiliconValleyThechildhoodthatPaulandClaraJobscreatedfortheirnewsonwas,inmanyways,astereotypeofthelate1950s.WhenStevewastwotheyadoptedagirltheynamedPatty,andthreeyearslatertheymovedtoatracthouseinthesuburbs.ThefinancecompanywherePaulworkedasarepoman,CIT,hadtransferredhimdowntoitsPaloAltooffice,buthecouldnotaffordtolivethere,sotheylandedinasubdivisioninMountainView,alessexpensivetownjusttothesouth.TherePaultriedtopassalonghisloveofmechanicsandcars.“Steve,thisisyourworkbenchnow,”hesaidashemarkedoffasectionofthetableintheirgarage.Jobsrememberedbeingimpressedbyhisfather’sfocusoncraftsmanship.“Ithoughtmydad’ssenseofdesignwasprettygood,”hesaid,“becauseheknewhowtobuildanything.Ifweneededacabinet,hewouldbuildit.Whenhebuiltourfence,hegavemeahammersoIcouldworkwithhim.”FiftyyearslaterthefencestillsurroundsthebackandsideyardsofthehouseinMountainView.AsJobsshoweditofftome,hecaressedthestockadepanelsandrecalledalessonthathisfatherimplanteddeeplyinhim.Itwasimportant,hisfathersaid,tocraftthebacksofcabinetsandfencesproperly,eventhoughtheywerehidden.“Heloveddoingthingsright.Heevencaredaboutthelookofthepartsyoucouldn’tsee.”Hisfathercontinuedtorefurbishandresellusedcars,andhefestoonedthegaragewithpicturesofhisfavorites.Hewouldpointoutthedetailingofthedesigntohisson:thelines,thevents,thechrome,thetrimoftheseats.Afterworkeachday,hewouldchangeintohisdungareesandretreattothegarage,oftenwithStevetaggingalong.“IfiguredIcouldgethimnaileddownwithalittlemechanicalability,buthereallywasn’tinterestedingettinghishandsdirty,”Paullaterrecalled.“Heneverreallycaredtoomuchaboutmechanicalthings.”“Iwasn’tthatintofixingcars,”Jobsadmitted.“ButIwaseagertohangoutwithmydad.”Evenashewasgrowingmoreawarethathehadbeenadopted,hewasbecomingmoreattachedtohisfather.Onedaywhenhewasabouteight,hediscoveredaphotographofhisfatherfromhistimeintheCoastGuard.“He’sintheengineroom,andhe’sgothisshirtoffandlookslikeJamesDean.ItwasoneofthoseOhwowmomentsforakid.Wow,oooh,myparentswereactuallyonceveryyoungandreallygood-looking.”Throughcars,hisfathergaveStevehisfirstexposuretoelectronics.“Mydaddidnothaveadeepunderstandingofelectronics,buthe’dencountereditalotinautomobilesandotherthingshewouldfix.Heshowedmetherudimentsofelectronics,andIgotveryinterestedinthat.”Evenmoreinterestingwerethetripstoscavengeforparts.“Everyweekend,there’dbeajunkyardtrip.We’dbelookingforagenerator,acarburetor,allsortsofcomponents.”Herememberedwatchinghisfathernegotiateatthecounter.“Hewasagoodbargainer,becauseheknewbetterthantheguysatthecounterwhatthepartsshouldcost.”Thishelpedfulfillthepledgehisparentsmadewhenhewasadopted.“Mycollegefundcamefrommydadpaying$50foraFordFalconorsomeotherbeat-upcarthatdidn’trun,workingonitforafewweeks,andsellingitfor$250—andnottellingtheIRS.”TheJobses’houseandtheothersintheirneighborhoodwerebuiltbytherealestatedeveloperJosephEichler,whosecompanyspawnedmorethaneleventhousandhomesinvariousCaliforniasubdivisionsbetween1950and1974.InspiredbyFrankLloydWright’svisionofsimplemodernhomesfortheAmerican“everyman,”Eichlerbuiltinexpensivehousesthatfeaturedfloor-to-ceilingglasswalls,openfloorplans,exposedpost-and-beamconstruction,concreteslabfloors,andlotsofslidingglassdoors.“Eichlerdidagreatthing,”Jobssaidononeofourwalksaroundtheneighborhood.“Hishousesweresmartandcheapandgood.Theybroughtcleandesignandsimpletastetolower-incomepeople.Theyhadawesomelittlefeatures,likeradiantheatinginthefloors.Youputcarpetonthem,andwehadnicetoastyfloorswhenwewerekids.”JobssaidthathisappreciationforEichlerhomesinstilledinhimapassionformakingnicelydesignedproductsforthemassmarket.“Iloveitwhenyoucanbringreallygreatdesignandsimplecapabilitytosomethingthatdoesn’tcostmuch,”hesaidashepointedoutthecleaneleganceofthehouses.“ItwastheoriginalvisionforApple.That’swhatwetriedtodowiththefirstMac.That’swhatwedidwiththeiPod.”AcrossthestreetfromtheJobsfamilylivedamanwhohadbecomesuccessfulasarealestateagent.“Hewasn’tthatbright,”Jobsrecalled,“butheseemedtobemakingafortune.Somydadthought,‘Icandothat.’Heworkedsohard,Iremember.Hetookthesenightclasses,passedthelicensetest,andgotintorealestate.Thenthebottomfelloutofthemarket.”Asaresult,thefamilyfounditselffinanciallystrappedforayearorsowhileStevewasinelementaryschool.HismothertookajobasabookkeeperforVarianAssociates,acompanythatmadescientificinstruments,andtheytookoutasecondmortgage.Onedayhisfourth-gradeteacheraskedhim,“Whatisityoudon’tunderstandabouttheuniverse?”Jobsreplied,“Idon’tunderstandwhyallofasuddenmydadissobroke.”Hewasproudthathisfatherneveradoptedaservileattitudeorslickstylethatmayhavemadehimabettersalesman.“Youhadtosuckuptopeopletosellrealestate,andhewasn’tgoodatthatanditwasn’tinhisnature.Iadmiredhimforthat.”PaulJobswentbacktobeingamechanic.Hisfatherwascalmandgentle,traitsthathissonlaterpraisedmorethanemulated.Hewasalsoresolute.Jobsdescribedoneexample:NearbywasanengineerwhowasworkingatWestinghouse.Hewasasingleguy,beatniktype.Hehadagirlfriend.Shewouldbabysitmesometimes.Bothmyparentsworked,soIwouldcomehererightafterschoolforacoupleofhours.Hewouldgetdrunkandhitheracoupleoftimes.Shecameoveronenight,scaredoutofherwits,andhecameoverdrunk,andmydadstoodhimdown—saying“She’shere,butyou’renotcomingin.”Hestoodrightthere.Weliketothinkeverythingwasidyllicinthe1950s,butthisguywasoneofthoseengineerswhohadmessed-uplives.Whatmadetheneighborhooddifferentfromthethousandsofotherspindly-treesubdivisionsacrossAmericawasthateventhene’er-do-wellstendedtobeengineers.“Whenwemovedhere,therewereapricotandplumorchardsonallofthesecorners,”Jobsrecalled.“Butitwasbeginningtoboombecauseofmilitaryinvestment.”Hesoakedupthehistoryofthevalleyanddevelopedayearningtoplayhisownrole.EdwinLandofPolaroidlatertoldhimaboutbeingaskedbyEisenhowertohelpbuildtheU-2spyplanecamerastoseehowrealtheSovietthreatwas.ThefilmwasdroppedincanistersandreturnedtotheNASAAmesResearchCenterinSunnyvale,notfarfromwhereJobslived.“ThefirstcomputerterminalIeversawwaswhenmydadbroughtmetotheAmesCenter,”hesaid.“Ifelltotallyinlovewithit.”Otherdefensecontractorssproutednearbyduringthe1950s.TheLockheedMissilesandSpaceDivision,whichbuiltsubmarine-launchedballisticmissiles,wasfoundedin1956nexttotheNASACenter;bythetimeJobsmovedtotheareafouryearslater,itemployedtwentythousandpeople.Afewhundredyardsaway,Westinghousebuiltfacilitiesthatproducedtubesandelectricaltransformersforthemissilesystems.“Youhadallthesemilitarycompaniesonthecuttingedge,”herecalled.“Itwasmysteriousandhigh-techandmadelivinghereveryexciting.”Inthewakeofthedefenseindustriestherearoseaboomingeconomybasedontechnology.Itsrootsstretchedbackto1938,whenDavidPackardandhisnewwifemovedintoahouseinPaloAltothathadashedwherehisfriendBillHewlettwassoonensconced.Thehousehadagarage—anappendagethatwouldprovebothusefulandiconicinthevalley—inwhichtheytinkeredarounduntiltheyhadtheirfirstproduct,anaudiooscillator.Bythe1950s,Hewlett-Packardwasafast-growingcompanymakingtechnicalinstruments.Fortunatelytherewasaplacenearbyforentrepreneurswhohadoutgrowntheirgarages.Inamovethatwouldhelptransformtheareaintothecradleofthetechrevolution,StanfordUniversity’sdeanofengineering,FrederickTerman,createdaseven-hundred-acreindustrialparkonuniversitylandforprivatecompaniesthatcouldcommercializetheideasofhisstudents.ItsfirsttenantwasVarianAssociates,whereClaraJobsworked.“Termancameupwiththisgreatideathatdidmorethananythingtocausethetechindustrytogrowuphere,”Jobssaid.BythetimeJobswasten,HPhadninethousandemployeesandwastheblue-chipcompanywhereeveryengineerseekingfinancialstabilitywantedtowork.Themostimportanttechnologyfortheregion’sgrowthwas,ofcourse,thesemiconductor.WilliamShockley,whohadbeenoneoftheinventorsofthetransistoratBellLabsinNewJersey,movedouttoMountainViewand,in1956,startedacompanytobuildtransistorsusingsiliconratherthanthemoreexpensivegermaniumthatwasthencommonlyused.ButShockleybecameincreasinglyerraticandabandonedhissilicontransistorproject,whichledeightofhisengineers—mostnotablyRobertNoyceandGordonMoore—tobreakawaytoformFairchildSemiconductor.Thatcompanygrewtotwelvethousandemployees,butitfragmentedin1968,whenNoycelostapowerstruggletobecomeCEO.HetookGordonMooreandfoundedacompanythattheycalledIntegratedElectronicsCorporation,whichtheysoonsmartlyabbreviatedtoIntel.TheirthirdemployeewasAndrewGrove,wholaterwouldgrowthecompanybyshiftingitsfocusfrommemorychipstomicroprocessors.Withinafewyearstherewouldbemorethanfiftycompaniesintheareamakingsemiconductors.TheexponentialgrowthofthisindustrywascorrelatedwiththephenomenonfamouslydiscoveredbyMoore,whoin1965drewagraphofthespeedofintegratedcircuits,basedonthenumberoftransistorsthatcouldbeplacedonachip,andshowedthatitdoubledabouteverytwoyears,atrajectorythatcouldbeexpectedtocontinue.Thiswasreaffirmedin1971,whenIntelwasabletoetchacompletecentralprocessingunitontoonechip,theIntel4004,whichwasdubbeda“microprocessor.”Moore’sLawhasheldgenerallytruetothisday,anditsreliableprojectionofperformancetopriceallowedtwogenerationsofyoungentrepreneurs,includingSteveJobsandBillGates,tocreatecostprojectionsfortheirforward-leaningproducts.ThechipindustrygavetheregionanewnamewhenDonHoefler,acolumnistfortheweeklytradepaperElectronicNews,beganaseriesinJanuary1971entitled“SiliconValleyUSA.”Theforty-mileSantaClaraValley,whichstretchesfromSouthSanFranciscothroughPaloAltotoSanJose,hasasitscommercialbackboneElCaminoReal,theroyalroadthatonceconnectedCalifornia’stwenty-onemissionchurchesandisnowabustlingavenuethatconnectscompaniesandstartupsaccountingforathirdoftheventurecapitalinvestmentintheUnitedStateseachyear.“Growingup,Igotinspiredbythehistoryoftheplace,”Jobssaid.“Thatmademewanttobeapartofit.”Likemostkids,hebecameinfusedwiththepassionsofthegrown-upsaroundhim.“Mostofthedadsintheneighborhooddidreallyneatstuff,likephotovoltaicsandbatteriesandradar,”Jobsrecalled.“Igrewupinaweofthatstuffandaskingpeopleaboutit.”Themostimportantoftheseneighbors,LarryLang,livedsevendoorsaway.“HewasmymodelofwhatanHPengineerwassupposedtobe:abighamradiooperator,hard-coreelectronicsguy,”Jobsrecalled.“Hewouldbringmestufftoplaywith.”AswewalkeduptoLang’soldhouse,Jobspointedtothedriveway.“Hetookacarbonmicrophoneandabatteryandaspeaker,andheputitonthisdriveway.Hehadmetalkintothecarbonmikeanditamplifiedoutofthespeaker.”Jobshadbeentaughtbyhisfatherthatmicrophonesalwaysrequiredanelectronicamplifier.“SoIracedhome,andItoldmydadthathewaswrong.”“No,itneedsanamplifier,”hisfatherassuredhim.WhenSteveprotestedotherwise,hisfathersaidhewascrazy.“Itcan’tworkwithoutanamplifier.There’ssometrick.”“Ikeptsayingnotomydad,tellinghimhehadtoseeit,andfinallyheactuallywalkeddownwithmeandsawit.Andhesaid,‘WellI’llbeabatoutofhell.’”Jobsrecalledtheincidentvividlybecauseitwashisfirstrealizationthathisfatherdidnotknoweverything.Thenamoredisconcertingdiscoverybegantodawnonhim:Hewassmarterthanhisparents.Hehadalwaysadmiredhisfather’scompetenceandsavvy.“Hewasnotaneducatedman,butIhadalwaysthoughthewasprettydamnsmart.Hedidn’treadmuch,buthecoulddoalot.Almosteverythingmechanical,hecouldfigureitout.”Yetthecarbonmicrophoneincident,Jobssaid,beganajarringprocessofrealizingthathewasinfactmorecleverandquickthanhisparents.“Itwasaverybigmomentthat’sburnedintomymind.WhenIrealizedthatIwassmarterthanmyparents,Ifelttremendousshameforhavingthoughtthat.Iwillneverforgetthatmoment.”Thisdiscovery,helatertoldfriends,alongwiththefactthathewasadopted,madehimfeelapart—detachedandseparate—frombothhisfamilyandtheworld.Anotherlayerofawarenessoccurredsoonafter.Notonlydidhediscoverthathewasbrighterthanhisparents,buthediscoveredthattheyknewthis.PaulandClaraJobswerelovingparents,andtheywerewillingtoadapttheirlivestosuitasonwhowasverysmart—andalsowillful.Theywouldgotogreatlengthstoaccommodatehim.AndsoonStevediscoveredthisfactaswell.“Bothmyparentsgotme.TheyfeltalotofresponsibilityoncetheysensedthatIwasspecial.Theyfoundwaystokeepfeedingmestuffandputtingmeinbetterschools.Theywerewillingtodefertomyneeds.”Sohegrewupnotonlywithasenseofhavingoncebeenabandoned,butalsowithasensethathewasspecial.Inhisownmind,thatwasmoreimportantintheformationofhispersonality.SchoolEvenbeforeJobsstartedelementaryschool,hismotherhadtaughthimhowtoread.This,however,ledtosomeproblemsoncehegottoschool.“Iwaskindofboredforthefirstfewyears
作者:刘娜
来源:闲时花开(ID:xsha369)
9月17号,湖北武汉的江夏一中。
14岁的初三男孩张某锐,爬上5楼教学楼的围墙,纵身一跃,送医后宣告不治身亡。
据封面新闻报道,张某锐当天在教室和其他两名同学玩扑克牌,三个孩子都被班主任要求家长到校配合管教。
张的母亲来到学校后,气势汹汹地走到儿子面前,二话不说,在五楼的楼道里,扇了他两个耳光。
男生的妈妈怎么和老师沟通的,不太清楚。
监控拍到的画面是,走廊里,妈妈打了孩子一个耳光,孩子挡了一下。
妈妈非常生气地说了几句话后,男生立正站好,妈妈伸手又打了男生一个耳光。
接下来,妈妈情绪应该非常崩溃,因为她随后又是掐儿子的脖子,又是戳儿子的额头,嘴里还嘟囔着什么。
妈妈离开后,男生在走廊里静立了两分钟,突然爬上栏杆,从5楼纵身一跃。
一个14岁的少年,就这样走了。
非常抱歉,以这样的方式认识他。
但我想,此刻最无法原谅自己的,应该是他的妈妈。
就像上海17岁少年跳桥事件一样,在孩子纵身一跳之后,全世界都在怜惜中众说纷纭,而那个情绪崩溃的妈妈,却永远地失去了她的孩子,一辈子都活在无法饶恕自己的负罪感里。
妈妈当然是不对的,不管是从教育方式还是情绪管理。
但是,仅仅是妈妈的几句话,两个巴掌,一顿推搡,那个孩子就选择结束了自己的生命吗?
不是的。
早在这个惨案以如此悲痛的方式爆发前,这个家庭已经隐藏了太多的亲子矛盾。
悲剧,不过是以极端的方式,把一个家庭内部长久藏匿的暗伤,撕开一个口子曝光给世人看,并提醒所有围观者:
教育的问题,从来不是一天养成的问题。
孩子的问题,从来不是一次冲突的问题。
早在很久很久之前,孩子就病了,家长却讳疾忌医。
01
问题孩子背后
都站着缺席的家长
儿童心理学上有句话:
当你发现你的孩子有问题时,其实你已经错过了10次陪他改正的机会。
如果有一台摄像机,能从孩子出生起,就记录下他成长的轨迹,我们就会发现:
当一个孩子出现某方面的问题之前,他其实向大人求助过很多次。
比如,孩子注意力不集中,是长久以来,大人没有给他一个安静有序的环境,他的注意力总是被嘈杂的声音吸引,直至最后连5分钟也安静不下来。
比如,孩子暴躁爱哭不讲理,是大人们没有耐心和他沟通,或者习惯用“只要一哭就满足”的溺爱喂养他,直至他以此来要挟大人。
比如,孩子特别痴迷手机游戏,是大人们一忙就把手机扔给孩子,借此逃避陪伴的劳累,且在规则不明的模糊中,让孩子觉得随便玩也没问题。
孩子身上的毛病,都能在我们身上看到原型,也都能在我们家庭找到病根。
就像武汉14岁男生跳楼事件,妈妈当众对孩子的崩溃和殴打,大概率不是此时此地只发生这一次。
也像你们家,孩子痴迷手机游戏,是他从小和外公外婆在一起时,就是想玩手机就能玩的,想看电视就能看的,想吃独食就吃独食的,甚至想殴打大人都是没问题的。
他在没有规矩中长大,当然就不懂方圆;
他被当祖宗养,当然就不会共情他人;
他没有被人指出过错误,当然也就无法在被纠正中,明白是非。
为什么所有的教育专家和心理学家,都说0—6岁是儿童成长的关键期?
因为,那是一张白纸的第一笔,一篇文字的第一段,一个天使的第一步,是习惯养成的第一个阶段,是亲子连接的第一座桥梁。
非常可悲的是,很多父母,在孩子6岁之前时,因为种种原因,没有给予安全而充分的陪伴,当孩子一身毛病时,又极其嫌恶地指责:
“你怎么这样,你怎么那样,你太给我丢人了!我怎么会有你这样的孩子!”
这样的家长,没有资格嫌弃孩子,而是要向孩子道歉。
因为,每个有毛病的孩子,都在通过伤害自己的方式,向父母发出呼喊:
“爸爸妈妈,看见我,我生病了,需要你们花些时间,把我带出坏习惯的沼泽,否则我会沉溺的。”
看见你的孩子,看见他今天所有的问题,都是对你们缺席太久的敌意。
不要随便给他扣上“坏”“叛逆”“堕落”的帽子,知道他今天所有的问题,你们也有份儿。
像对待新生儿一样宽容接纳他,从第一个好习惯开始引领他,给他时间,给他肯定,他才可能在你们的看见中,主动改变自己。
从心态上做到这一点,你才在行动上做到下一点——
02
挽救一个孩子
其实是捋顺他周围的关系
每个人的内心世界,都是他所处关系的反映。
所以,挽救或治愈一个孩子,要治疗的并非是这个孩子,而是他周围的关系,确切来说,是他和父母的关系。
很多父母看不到这一点,发现孩子有了问题,就病急乱投医,认为都是孩子的错,甚至把孩子送到杨永信这类骗子那里,这样只会亲手毁了孩子。
你们家的孩子,自幼由外公外婆抚养,虽然你们是他的父母,但外公外婆更像是他心理上的父母。
他进入青春期后,你们把他带到身边,给他贴上“变坏了”的标签,武断切断他和老人的关系,但又没有时间、耐心和方法,去修复你们和他之间的关系。
这个孩子,在关系的突然断裂中,就会无所适从,异常叛逆。
他离开了溺爱的外公外婆,对你们又缺乏亲密和信赖,孤独无助中,他必须抓住什么,去建立一种被无限包容、无限接纳的关系。
手机和游戏,就这样成了替代品。
现实中,他无法和亲近的人,建立持续而亲密的爱。游戏中,他才和虚幻的人,建立脆弱而痴迷的网。
要知道,每个沉迷网络游戏的孩子,其实都是一个对现实失望的少年,确切地说,是对父母失望的少年。
不要再恨铁不成钢地斥责你的孩子:“你为什么对游戏这么痴迷?”
从一点一滴上,陪他多回到现实中和人发生连接。
陪他锻炼,带他旅行,和他一起读书,邀请他参与到家庭事务中,多听他的想法,放手给他去做决定,让他在体验和经历中明白——
手机的方寸之地外,原来还有这么多好玩有趣的事儿。
接受他还会犯错,还会犯瘾,还会三天打鱼两天晒网,还会往前走三步又往后退两步,但一定要鼓励他,一小步一小步地在好习惯中,重建自我。
走得多了,小步就变成了大步,孩子就变成了好孩子。
在行动中做到这一点,你才能来到第三个阶段——
03
给你全部的温柔
但我也有坚定的时候
这几年,孩子自残自杀事件的爆发,让不少家长都陷入迷茫:
真不知道该怎么管孩子了!
管得多了,孩子会跳楼!
不管他,又怕他走上邪路!
其实,不必过分担忧。
少年自杀身亡的事件,不管是过去还是现在,不管是国外还是国内,一直都有。因为,问题家庭,从未绝迹。
这些年,不过是网络发达,传播迅速,而教育焦虑,一次次把这类悲惨事件,在讨论中不断放大而已。
从概率上来讲,这些事件,永远是小概率的极端事件,只要你真正地爱你的孩子,他大概率会成长为健康而豁达的人。
那么,怎么才算真正的爱呢?
温柔而坚定的爱。
在日常生活中,给孩子全部的温柔和耐心,接纳和鼓励,分享和陪伴,而不是说教和唠叨,控制和绑架。
在具体事情上,要给孩子坚定的原则和边界,做对了就要大声表扬,做错了就要明确指出,失信了就要受到严惩,违规了就要付出代价。
最简单的例子就是,说好的只玩20分钟游戏,到点了就必须放下手机。否则,就失去下一次20分钟的机会。
家长做到言出必行,行必有果,孩子会在清晰的认知里,耳濡目染,明确自我。
一位叫“劲姊”的妈妈,在武汉14岁男生跳楼后,分享的自家孩子的故事:
“我家崽,也是一个不省心的孩子。
中学时,我多次被老师请到学校,以至于看见老师的电话就紧张。
但并没有因此指责打骂过孩子。
高一时,接到老师的电话,说我家小子伪造走读证(他是寄宿生)多次混出学校,那天终被抓获。
我当时在另一座城市,向老师说明情况,马上出发,晚上10点半才赶到学校。
我小心翼翼地问老师,孩子怎么样,老师说在外面罚站。
我看到我崽笔挺地站在走廊里。他看到我喊了一声‘妈妈’。
我问他吃饭了吗,他说没有。我到老师办公室,被告知处罚结果是,停课3天,记过处分。
我坦然接受,并向老师道歉,把崽带走,把路上把给他买的饭菜递给他。
在家三天,我一句也没提这件事。
第四天,送他去学校,进了校门口,才问他,你说说怎么和保安叔叔斗智斗勇的。
浑小子笑了,把事情从头到尾说一遍,其实也没做什么,就是混出去走走,或买杯饮料。
我说了句何苦呢,一个人的档案是要陪伴终身的,要珍惜自己的荣誉。
顺便告诉他“妈妈眼睛不好,那天赶去学校,心里又急。晚上开车上高速,万一出点事,你日子怎么过”。
从那以后,崽再也没给我添过乱。”
是的。
想要得到孩子的接纳,先接纳孩子。
想要得到孩子的爱,先爱孩子。
想要得到善果,先播种善因。
04
最后,如何和孩子相处?
有两个原则。
第一个原则就是,当孩子犯错的时候,要把他当一个孩子来看。
也就是说,他是孩子,还在成长,认知水平有限,自控能力不足,这些都是需要他慢慢学习和在父母的教导中学到的,请多些包容和耐心。
第二个原则就是,当你批评孩子的时候,一定要把他当个成年人来看。
站在一个成年人的角度,想想你要说的话,如果放在大人身上,会不会伤害自尊心?
孩子也是人,只要是人,被责骂就会伤心,不被尊重就会愤怒,受委屈了就会有恨,不被理解就会有痛苦。
教几个父母和孩子说话的小技巧:
请不要说:我和你说话呢,你这个孩子怎么回事?
请这么说:我感觉你今天有心事,你能不能和我说说看?看看爸爸(妈妈)能不能帮你。
请不要说:还不回房间去,这么晚了,别玩了,听到没有?我都说了好几遍了!
请这么说:还有十分钟就要睡觉了,你是先刷牙还是先洗脸?
请不要说:小孩子懂什么,你怎么这么犟啊?我都是为你好!
请这么说:你可以说不,但我需要知道你说不的理由,才能理解你呀!
有一本书,叫《为何家会伤人》,里面写到的场景,真的很让人刺痛。
你给了孩子恨,却妄想从他身上得到爱;
你给了孩子痛苦,却妄想从他身上收获感激;
你给了孩子阴影,却妄想他永远积极向上没有阴霾;
这是永远不可能的。
纪伯伦写过一首很有名的诗:
“你的儿女不是你的儿女
他们是生命对于自身渴望而诞生的孩子
他们借助你来到这世界、却非因你而来
他们在你身旁,却并不属于你”
希望所有的父母都能够明白这个道理:
孩子不是我们的附属品,更不是我们情绪的垃圾桶。
不要再以爱之名,做伤害孩子的事情了!
点亮【在看】,愿你我都懂得。
-END-
来源:闲时花开,原文有删节。作者:刘娜,80后老女孩,情感专栏作者,原创爆文写手,能写亲情爱情故事,会写亲子教育热点,被读者称为“能文艺也理性的女中年,敢柔情也死磕的傻大妞”。来源:闲时花开(ID:xsha369)。
本文部分内容综合桌子的生活观,作者:桌子先生。
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