The San Francisco call., 1905-05-13
TRAINING
REBELLI0U6
CHILDREN
BY ANGELA MORGAN.

HAVE been talking with a mother
who deplores the fact that her chill
dren rebel against her efforts to in
struct and control them. She declares
her offspring seem to find the advice
OF any one more attractive than moth
, er's advice
Just because / give 1t they won't
listen to my instruction. But let a
nefghbor or friend. or even a stranger,
suggest the same thing and they are
all smiles and attention. I can't under
stand this streak OF perversity In chill
dren-at least in my children. I gtrive
to train them properly, but whatever
tell them goes in at one ear and out at
the other. suppose it is the old story
OF the prophet not without honor"
This mothers plaint Is very usual
one Nearly every mother at some
stage OF her experience in rearing chill
dren discovers this tendency Of the
childish mind to reject maternal coun-
sci and to accept with readiness the
same teaching from other sources.
l am reminded Of an amusing Incl
dent which illustrates this proclivity
Of child nature.
A woman of my acquaintance had
been earnestly striving to instill into
her young sons mind the principles Of
etiquette. She had instructed him in
all the details Of polite behavior at
home and patiently repeated the teach
ing daily in the hope that ultimately
the seeds of good training would bear
fruit.
The boy exhibited a most astonishing
ct, L
most despairing of ever. effecting a
change in his manners when one day
his first day at public school-he
rushed home with new interest shin
ing In his face.
We'll. how do you enjoy going to
school? Tell mother all about it,"
"Oh, 1t was fine! I'm so glad went.
We have a bully teacher"
What did you learn from herr"
"Oh, she taught me lots Of things I
never heard before
What did she teach your"
"She told me must always take off
my hat when 1 come in the house
This particular mother had a sense
Of humor and could laugh at her own
expense. But after all isn't there a
cause for 1t when children respect what
others say more than what their par
ents tell them?
Doesn't the cause lie in the fact that
mothers generally fail to present ad-
monftion in an attractive way? 1 be-
lieve the average mother does not take
the time and trouble to consider just
what methods of training will appeal
to the young Imagination. She filings
out her don'ts and mustn'ts as occa-
sion prompts and often she is in any
thing but an agreeable mood when she
does it
7 Children are sensitive to Impressions
and they rebel when warnings are
| hurled at them or advice is dinned into
their ears day after day in any tone
mother happens to feel like indulging
at the moment
! When Johnny's mother scowls up al
him from pan Of dishwater with the
harsh reminder, Johnny, whard I tell
you? Take off that hat! Now you
mind me-take 1t off! Do you hear?'
Johnny obeys under violent protest.
But when teacher with a rose in
her belt and smile on her lips, ex-
plains the why and wherefore of good
manners. he perceives in flash of H.
Elimination that to remove ones hat
upon entering the house Is a privilege
especially accorded the sex to which
he belongs And after that he never
needs to be reminded Of that privilege
Let every mother ask herself if she
is spending sufficient time and thought
in seeking the pleasantest methods OF
training her children. If mother
wants her children to respect her adj
/ vice she must make her manner of be-
slowing that advice worthy Of respect