Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-09
CHOOSE YOUR cHILD's FP1pnns
Parents Should Be Cautious Bofora r. =
Too Late. 1S

Too Late.
The friends that children moLo ,,...
the formative period of their lives at
a most decided influence unon tl....
lure ana where the friendship is H.,
tween young people of the opno.ito - ne
ance, P~"'-"I 'HpArt-
All thoughtful fathers and uotror.
eeeply feel the need of happy marriagas
Tor their sons and daughters Lrt -
they do very little to insure thair n,al.;g..
them. Ihey seem to feel that there +. :,
sort OF fate about it, and that if il nso
iess TO interfere. How often do We Legr
from sorrowful parents such spute,.".
as these: I'VE knew they were NOT , D'.,.
genial, but he was infatuated viii, hor
ana 1t was useless to interfere" ar w
knew his habits We're none of fine Las,
put she would listen to NOTHING han
father or l could say She would bava
nm, and now she is suffering the con-.
sequences"
1t is ordinarily useless to Interfere
AFTER the attachment is formed and
young love in its strength has baan
given. The time to save a child from
such sorrow is before matters have zone
so TAR. IT you possess your chldrep's
confidence, and know their friends rs
you should, you can help them To form
sound judgments III regard to them. and
the only way for yop to know their
friends IS to make yourself their com
panlon; but how can you do this if Won
allow your daughter to receive her
young men friends alone in the parlo.
and never ask the girls whom your Son
admires to your home?
The boys and girls who drnn in of nm
evening should be welcomed to the fam
lily circle, and the father and mother
shCulG join i'll the young peoples amusr,
ments. Let the little tea-table be ready,
arrayed in its embroidered cloth and set
with pretty dishes. and pass around the
social cup of tea or cocoa lue hours
will fly as if on wings for the lads and
lasses with each entertainment as this,
although it is so simple. They will be
eager to come again. and you viii find
plenty of opportunity to reaL their char
acterS. knowledge so gained will cna-
bic fathers and mothers to talk to their
children about their friends while they
are still able to listen to reason. and they
can help them to form a just estimate
OF the worth of their companions.
/ know it is a difficult thing To win
a child's confidence in this regard; you
are touching the most sensitive side of
his nature, and unless it is done with
perfect delicacy and tact he will not un-
fold to you; he will talk to Il Sch0omate.
or to somebody else. but you will not
know what your child is thinking about
The least suggestion of amusement. not
to say ridicule, on the subject is enough
to make the child close his heart. as
sea anemone closes its petals at the least
Earring touch. And vet it is only when
a child does talk freely to his father and
mother about the friends which he makes
that we may be sure he is safe.
| believe in the free companionship
which our American society permits
among young people, but if we accept
such social conditions we should train
our children accordingly. Their mora.
standard should be so exalted that they
will maintain exactly the same behavior
when they are alone together tudt they
do when they are with us. If we sue
coed in such training-and it is quite
possible to do so-the character produced
has a peculiar nobility and purity; hut
too often parents are blind just where
they should have the most insight, and
are cold and severe just where the ut
most tact and gentleness are needful
l am very sure that the children who
can go to father and mother not only
with their joys and sorrows. but with
their youthful faults and fOllies as well.
knowing that the reproOf, if it must he
given, will be loving. knowing that they
will be trusted to try again, are the ones
who ultimately develop the strongest and
most perfect racters.-Children and
Home.