The Florida agriculturist., 1907-11-06
WILLFULNESS IN CHILDREN.
A Quality to be Guided, Not Elm
1nated-All Mothers Have to
Meet it.

mothers have to contend with, is more
often due to unW1Se and inconsistent
management on the part OF the mother
than TO the perverS1ty OF the child II
the mother be reasonable IN her re-
qu1rements and consistent in enforcing
them there will be little inclination on
the part OF the child to OverStep au-
thor1ty; but ii that authority be t1uctu-
atlng-Str1Ct to-day, lax tomorrow
with no consistent reason for the differ
ence; if the reason or judgment OF the
child has never been called into play,
and the responsibility OF a choice
thrust upon him; II he has learned by
experience that it is only a question
Of time before his persistence will obtain
Tor him the coveted PERMISSION, why
wonuer that his own will and desires
seem paramount:
Children are as earnest and ardent
in their long1ngs as are we older tOlk.
lie ueClS1On OF our own action de-
penus upon ourselves, and II, as often
happens, 1t proves an unW1Se one, we
try to bear the result with equanlmlry
and lay up the cost that we pay to
the score OF experience. lh1s same
method would be beneficial to the child.
Give his individuality a generous
sway and avoid checking his impulses
unless there be real necessity tor do
ing so. Given If those impulses be
not OF the best, there is no reader way
Tor us to learn them and to know what
we have to contend W1th.) leach him
to consult you in affairs Of any mo-
ment, ana when he does SO show your
confluence and appreciation OF his
honesty and good sense and let him,
as often as possible, follow the die
tates OF his heart untrammelled.
When there is only personal dis
comfort or annoyance to be considered
as a consequence 1t Will be we'll to
talk the matter over, advise him frank
ly III regard to the probable results,
and then leave the decision OF his &C
ton to himself. If he yields to your
superior judgment it will strengthen
your confidence in each other for all
time If, on the other hand, he
chooses to profit by his own expert
ence, it may be as we'll for him to
do SO. But if tor any reason you SO
u1sapprove Of the thing he desires that
you cannot cOnsc1ent1OuSly accord 1t
to him, make your refusal clear and
decisive and let nothing move you
from it. There are not many in
stances that will require really arbi-
trary stand, and if in minor considera-
tions thoughtlessness and leniency
have been the rule, there need be no
fear Of resentment or rebellion in these
exceptional cases.
The ease with which many mothers
avail themselves Of their rights with
out regard to reason or necessity is
amuSlngly illustrated in an instance
quoted by Miss Sarah Arnold, Of Bos-
ton. While passing through one Of
tile thickly populated streets she OBJ
served small boy on a doorstep
SO completely engrossed with his play
that repeated calls for Tommy from
all upper window seemed to have no
connection whatever with his affairs.
After few moments the calls ceased
and woman appeared in the doorway
behind him.
Tommy she exclaimed, irately,
didn't you hear me calling? Why
didn't you come"
"Oh,' replied the boy, turning with
barely awakened interest, "did you
want me, or were you just calling?"
| know a mother who resorts to
the same bitter reproaches when her
children soil their hands or clothes
as she does when they openly defy
her or transgress in serious affairs.
She scolds vehemently on all occasions,
and it does not do bit of good.