The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-02-21
PARENTAL HONESTY THE BEST
Childstn Absorb Much More OF Talk
Than Mothers Suspect, so Truth
should Be spoken.

Many child has been unconscious
ly taught TO deceive by mothers
thoughtlessness. How often have We
heard children, after some naughty
behavior, plead with the mother not
TO tell papa" or perhaps the parent
herself has said; IF you'll promise
not 10 do il again, / won't tell papa
this time The child may not really
consider his father an ogre. but hes
too often does feel that il his faults
can be concealed from him he is for
tunute. Men rarely have patience
with children and SO trivial things
are apt TO receive punishment in ug-
due proportion, and the child breads
'paternal Justice" says the Home
Magazine.
Perhaps the mother, in talking over
home matters, may conceal some de-
tails in a way that the child cannot
understand; and he naturally fol-
lows her example without the bene-
fit OF mature Judgment, considering
that II il be right TO keep back one
fact il must be So TO withhold any
which DO not reflect TO his credit.
Little receptions like this often do
more real harm than an actual IL, in
that the habit grows so unconscious
ly. Mothers frequently say ~ don't
see how my children ever learned Co
be untruthful, as | have always
taught them how wrong il is to tell
n lic;" and yet the same mothers
have set an example which would
indeed astonish them could they but
see themselves as the little ones see
them.
Children absorb much more than
parents realize and we cannot be too
careful in our conversation before
them. If there ever is time when
deception is iustihablc, IL is not with
the child. We would better explain
frankly why we say certain things
than leave wrong impression in
their minds. Remember that their
horizon is narrow as yet and that
their minds are always asking
'why2" The child should feel from
his inner nature that mother does
right because It is right and not, il
must he right because mother does
il, although the latter conclusion is
n perfectly natural result of the
former condition.
by deprccatng the concealing of n
child's faults from others we do not
mean to advise the daily rehearsal OF
domestic worries. That is one OF
the worst things that woman can
do. and yet il is common enough for
man TO hear n tale of woe on his
return from the days work perhaps
served up at the supper table, too.
Women do these things so Thoughts
lessly, never realizing how depress-
ing il must be to have home troubles
retailcd nightly when n person is too
tired to be sympathetic. We do not
wish 10 belittle the cares that women
have, indeed they are many and har-
assing; but we should remember that
the men have their daily cares as
well and that if the home is so he the
best place on earth il must be pleas
ant.
Let the conversation bc cheerful
and keep the disagrceable in tho
background for time at least. III
there are things TO be discussed
which arc not pleasant, they will be
! treated more wisely after a com
! Portable meal and brief rest. Don't
make the dining-room clearing
! house for troubles, nor make the
children feel that they are likely To
be scolded Mt any minute for pre-
vious misdecds If these are such
! that il seems best TO consult the fa-
Their. tell the facts just as they are,
or keep them TO yourselves. Many
fault will disappear il ignored and
! it is n wise mother who knows when
TO chide Teach the child to feel that
ne will be treated Justly and you need
have little fear Of his dccciving you.