You can hear the voice recording for the diary.
日本には、親の見栄という見えない戦いがある。
In Japan, parents have their own pride as a father or mother.
公園に行くと、多くの子供がナイキやプーマなどのブランド靴を履いている。
When I go to the park with my child, there are many children wearing brand-name shoes such as Nike and Puma.
それらの靴は、大人のそれと値段は大して変わらない。
Such shoes are as expensive as the ones for adults.
子供ができるまでは、そんなものは親の勝手なエゴだと思っていたが、いざそれを間近で見ると見劣りする感は否めない。
I thought that getting their children to wear those shoes was parents’ ego until I became a father, but there is undeniable sense that my child wearing reasonable shoes compares unfavorably with others wearing the brand-name shoes.
つい先日、祖父母が買ってくれたメーカーものの靴に喜んでいるのは、子供ではなくその両親なのかもしれない（笑）。
We might be happier than our child because of the brand-name shoes my parents gave to my son as a present.
To be continued.
