The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-01-19
Childish Disrespect.

This is the fault that some persons
would punish with especial severity,
and such persons are apt to judge su-
perfcially, or more by a childs words
than by it's meaning or motive. Very
young children often speak disrespect-
fully without any idea that they are do
ing wrong. They are natural demo-
Gratis (not in modern political sense).
and they have an innate sense of
I" equality eff you won't be saucy
to me, won't be saucy to you," said
h.tle Fanny when her mother reproved
her for sauciness. Fanny's mother,
perhaps, had never thought that a pa
rent could be guilty of sauciness, but I
often think of the child's remark when
children speak disrespectfully to their
parents. I can usually see that they
have brought it upon themselves that
more patience and gentleness on the
parents part would have prevented the
hasty reply.
Parents certainly should treat their
children with respect. Not as though
the children were their superiors, but
as though they had rights which all
were bound to respect, and feelings
which the parents should regard, and
tastes and preferences worthy of rea-
sonable consideration. Children so
treated will not be tempted to serious
impudence. 1 do not say that they
will never speak words that sound
saucy. The only way to prevent that,
is to bring them up in state of con-
slant fear, so that they never speak at
all except in well-considered words.
If children feel free and easy and con-
fidential with their parents, they will
be apt to address them sometimes very
much as they do their playmates of
their own age, and sometimes this will
seem disrespectful when no disrespect
is intended. Of course we should try
to teach them good manners, and this
includes gentle and respectful behavior,
but if we send them to school, or allow
them to play with their little neighbors,
they will probably pick up expressions
that we cannot admire, and use them
in the family. Few children Of natural
independence or spontaneity have
never said Il won't" to their parents.
But often this means nothing more
than an expression of preference-or
too vehement expression, which should
certainly be modified. But the child
expresses the momentary feeling, and
Immediately repents, and intends no
disobedience. ~ r..E ..-.
You remember the Bible story about
the two who were hidden to go work in
the vineyard. One said: II 90, SIR"
and went not. The other said: al go
not" and afterwards repented and
went. / am sometimes reminded of
this by the children's conduct. Who
are we that we should sit in Judgment
of the children and condemn them? If
we are the children's parents we are a
part of the cold stock" whence the
children, with their various dispositions,
have sprung. If the disposition is what
is called "bad,'' did the child deliber-
ately choose It? Did it even ask for
you as its parents? Did you not bring
it into the midst of life's grave respon-
sibilities without asking its consent or
consulting its preferences? It is GER
tain, then, that the child has right to
great patience and forbearance from
those whose duty it is to give it support
and education.
Most of us commit the same faults
that we deplore and try to correct i'll our
children. Probably we have learned
more prudence than they, but few of lis
are always courteous in our treatment
of others.
hope no one supposes me to be max
ing a plea for sauciness. | disapprove
of it heartily, but ! think that duplicity
is a fault that has a deeper root and
more dangerous tendency. Some chill
dren OF the most respectful demeanor
toward parents and teachers turn out to