The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-23
Shall Baby Mind

"When shall begin to discipline my
child ?" is question which every mother
ought to ask. If say it is hardly DOS.
sible to begin too early, many will be sur
prised, if not incredulous. al never pun
ished child before it was two years
DID," said dear old lady to me- when
my first baby lay in my arms. "I don't
intend to punish at ALL" replied for,
like most inexperienced persons, l had
fine theories in regard to bringing up
children. 81 hope you won't need to-:
but, I'm Adams fall, we sinned ALL YOU
know" she said, with a hearty laugh;
thinking, no doubt, that few years would
teach me many things. While my baby
was " in arms" my theories were delight
full; but, with creeping, trouble began.
The things that he ought not to touch
were the only attractive ones, and most
fascinating of all was the bookcase.
Nothing delighted him more than to tug
away till the books tumbled out upon the
floor. Persuasion and argument were
of no avail. "No, no." and "Baby
naughty" were greeted with bright
smiles or utter indifference. l began to
fear that the child knew he was not do
ing right, and that this knowledge added
an element of mischievous pleasure.
But what was to be done l taxed my
ingenuity, but could not keep my child
away from the books. Must give up to
a baby of few months 1 asked my
self, ashamed that my theories had failed
in the crucial test. Suddenly common
sense came to the rescue. A dozen times
had carried the little witch away from
the scene of conflict, only to see him
creep back, with all speed, at the first OPP
portunity. Then, deliberately, 1 threw
my theories to the winds, and gave the
dear, chubby little hand smart slap.
Such look of surprise and distress 1t
nearly broke my heart. Then a change
came over the face, and with defiant
look that said, 81 will" again he attacked
the books. Again L slapped the hand !;
then 1 took the sobbing baby on my
knee, talked with, and quieted him.
When put him down this time, the
books were safe; he would not touch
them. The victory is won, 1 thought,
with sigh, for was tired out with ex-
citement. 1t was relief to conquer, but
the method was trial. Then 1 remem.
bered that our heavenly Father teaches
obedience in ways quite as hard to US as
this had been to my child, and l was
comforted. Whenever, after that, my
baby crept to the books, decided No."
or at most, &" Mamma punish" was suffi.
cient to keep him out of mischief. The
battle had to be fought again in regard to
other things-the poker and tongs, the al
bum, the piano; but, in the course of six
weeks, felt safe to take my baby any
where. In the midst of costly bric.a-brac l
had no fears, for my child had learned the
grand lesson of life-obedience. Chow
do you manager" friend asked me, as
we were preparing to leave her house
after two-days' visit. "Much as
wanted to see you, will confess that
hesitated when l thought of the child.
My cousins little boy was here week,
and couldn't tell you how many things
he ruined !" "Has your cousin ever pun
ished her child p asked. "Oh, no !
Why, he isn't three years old yet"
smiled and did not wonder at her troubles.
There may be some mothers who can
spare the rod without spelling the child |;
there may be some children more easily
| influenced than mine but, for the ma
jority, do believe some punishment is
necessary, and the earlier a mother be-
gins, the less of it she will have to do.
await until the child can understand"
was told over and over again. Ali but
who can tell how early child may un-
derstand the difference between right
and wrong? Experience has taught me
that if baby learns to mind before he
learns to walk, by the time he is two
years old he will have settled into a
habit of minding, when punishment will
rarely be necessary. In these days of un-
governed children-dreaded by host and
hotel keeper alike-every mother should
insist on obedience at whatever cost to
her own feelings. Make no unnecessary
prohibitions. Make every effort to pre-
vent disobedience. Divert the attention.
Be sometimes deaf and blind to little un-
intentional misdemeanors. Punish spar
ingly, but, when it is really necessary,
never neglect it. How can we expect our
children to obey the commands of God if
we do not teach them obedience ?-Con-
gregationalist.