Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-04-08
How We May Come Nearer Ideal
Motherhood.
Mrs. Cofdolia Mitchell ]

This subject oi the Ideal Mother is so
grand and tar-roaehing that ono is lost in
thought whom ondesyoring 20 advance
scmo IDEAS on tho subject. Hannah. tho
mother Of Samuel. first occurs 10 my
mind. She first asked Gcd 10 send hor
a child and then dedicated him to Gcd a:
his birth. Many times mothers think only
OF caring for tho body. never thinking Of
tho soul that mus, return to God: never
thinking |, has been son, for hor to unfold.
develop. build and perfect into lovely
character for eternity. So. think. tho
consocrstod mother mus, DO. first. with
ono hand in Gods hand and tho other
holding fast to hor children.
No mother fails altogether. hcr love is
too great for that: but all arc conscious Of
failing In part: Of falling below tho ideal:
Of beng less wise and pation. than sho
would wish to be. and Of not rendering so
intelligent and helpful aid TO hor family as
she would desire. What mother. who has
a grown up family and looks backward
over past experiences. but thinks. " it
was all to 90 over again. sho would do
differently about many things.
There is something pitiful In the grief
Of many mothers over their scnse Of in
competency for their responsible duties.
Young souls are growing up around them
are weighted down with tho conviction
.ha. they ough, to give counsel on many
subjects. that are never spoken OF openly.
and so they never speak. Whatever her
experience has taught her that Il will do
them good to know Il is hor privilege and
duty TO impart to them.
Every mother should endeavor 70 es-
tablish a thorough confidence between
herself and her ehildren-sons as well as
daughters. Nothing Is more beautiful and
helpful than such a confidence. They in
their ignorance will not tell her anything
that will bo harmful to her. while she in
her wisdom will tell thom many things
they cannot learn so well as from her lips.
To counsel with mother then becomes a
habit. Ono who has this habit will never
go far astray. Too intimate condolences
among young people are not profitable.
Again. mothers should hope well for
their children. They often love their
children much better than they hope for
them. They see so many faults and fall
ures and in their impatienee. and. maybe
| ill-tempor. tell them they are the very
worst children any mother ever had. It
doesn't have very good effect An ap-
peal to some good quality is much better.
Don't be wet blanket TO children. Speak
Of their polite manners. Politeness is not
natural. SO much as a cultivated dsposi-
/ ton and habit. II is one Of the fine fruits
Of culture. and soon becomes second ma
/ ture and part OF the character.
| We think OF the mother as the Queen Of
the Home. which is called the Heart Of
the World. Whoever helps her. whether
in the home or outside, to possess her
spirit in quiet and peace. olesses her. him
self. and the world. The mother should
ever be in communion with the Father
that she may show forth the fruits Of q
Cody life. which are love, kindness, gen
tleness. patience.
Whatever interests her children should
also be Of great interest to her, so as tc
keep in touch with them.
No one mother can be taken as mode