The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-01-01

chiIaren Absorb Much More Of Talk
Thaa Mathers Suspect, So Truth
shouid Be spoken.

Many a child has been unconscious
" taught TO deceive by n mothers
thoughtlessness How often have wo
heard children, after some naughty
behavior, plead with the mother mot
to tell papa" or perhaps the parent
herself has said: "If you'll promise
not TO do Il again, won't tell papa
this time" The child may not really
consider his father nm ogre, but he
too often does feel that II his faults
can be concealed from him he is fer
tunate Men rarely have patience
with children and so trivial things
are apt TO receive punishment In un-
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-
at of mature Judgment considering
that II IL be right 70 keep back one
fact IL must be so 10 withhold any
which do not reflect to his credit.
Little deceptions like this often do
more real harm than an actual lie, in
that the habit grows so unconscious
ly. Mothers frequently say: II don't
see how my children ever learned to
be untruthful, MS l have always
taught them how wrong 1t is to tell
n lie;" and yet the same mothers
have set an example which would
indeed astonish them could they but
see themselves az the little ones see
them.
Ckildren absorb much more than
parents realize and we cannot be too
careful in our conversation before
them. II there ever Ia n time when
deception Is justiAable, 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
"why?" The child should feel from
his inner nature that mother does
right because IL is right and not II
must be right because mother does
II, although the latter conclusion Ia
perfectly natural result Of the
former condition.
by deprecating the concealing Of a
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 a woman can
do, and yet II Is common enough for
man 20 hear n tale of woe on his
return from the days work-perhaps
served up at the supper table, too
Women do these things 80 thought
lessly, never realizing how depress-
ing Il must be to have home troubles
retailed nightly when person Is too
tired 10 be sympathetic, We do NOT
wish TO belittle the cares that women
have. indeed they are many and har'
assing; but we should remember that
the men have their daily cares AZ
well and that ~ the home Is TO be the
best place on earth II must be pleas
ant.
Let tue Ht thtNtAN -
and keep the disagreeable in Tho
background for a time at least. Il
there are things 10 be discussed
which are not pleasant, they viii b'
treated more wisely after com
Portable meal and brief rest. Dom
make the dining-room a clearing
house for troubles, nor make th'
children feel that they are likely e
be scolded at any minute for pre-
vious misdeeds. II these are snci
that II seems best 10 consult the IA
ther. tell tile facts just as they are
or keep them 10 yourselves. Many
fault win disappear II ignored AM
II Is a wise mother who knows whei
20 ehide. Teach the child to feel tha
he win he treated justly and you nee'
have little fear ~ his deeeiving you.