Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-23
Lack Of Syrnpathetic interest.

Every day | hear things said that go 10
prove how little time some parents are
giving to their children Not long ago
l congratulated a mother upon some
thing her son had done in school, Look
ing surprised she said: E"He did nSt tell
me anything about it. The truth is there
has been so much going ON I've been too
busy to know much about what the boys
are doing" Think of it.-too busy to
talk to ones sons! And do you suppose
for an instant that those sons loved 70
inger about the home, confiding all
their joys and troubles to their mother.
as a son naturally will, if his mother has
time to listen and see the fun in things.
or sympathize with and help him out OF
his troubles?
Again. A mother. said to me. MY
boy stays out SO late at night il troubles
me- OF course, I'm not always awake
when he comes in, but sometimes | hear
him and look at my watch and it will
he l o'clock. This letting boys have
night keys is serious problem, don't
you think?
Il have never found it So" | replied.
AT what age do You let your boys
have a key" she inquired
The latch-key always hangs in the
hall. They can have it at any age. when
ever they need it; but unless am i'll or
away from my home, they do not take
it, for they know that | will always be
mp to open the door for them"
But how can you sit up until all
hoursT she asked, then added, Il
should be dead
why any more dead sitting up all
hours to welcome your children than
being out all hours at various amuse-
mentsY' | asked
Then | explained that sitting up soon
gets to be a habit: that sometimes |
read, sometimes | sew. and often | lie
on the couch and take a nap. but | al
ways hear the childrens step and fly to
the door knowing that l am up to
greet them with a glowing interest in
whatever they have been doing. with
nut or apples to eat before going to
bed, they are not apt to be out very late
unless It is something unusual. OF
course, | understand that and, while
eating our light refreshments. | have my
reward, for there is something in the 81
lence OF the house, just as we two alone
that makes the boy or girl open their
heart to me as they never will at any
other time. And such hours spent with
our children become more precious as the
time goes on. | often call them my
rosary of hours" They are precious
gems that never can be stolen from me.
and | often tell these hours over aud
over again. as one would the beads IN
come again, when we worked with our
children, cooperating in all their plans,
sharing in all their joys and sorrows.
small or great And when our children
90 from us these hours become the great.
solace of our lives: they are the hours
that bring forth the best fruits.
As an Illustration Of the want of CO.
operation in keeping children happy in
the home, there is that old saying, VERY
good peoples children and especially
ministers sons generally go to the bad"
Now there must be some foundation for
this saying. What is it? | think it is
largely on account of these same good
peoples" selishness. INDUCING in their
love for study and research. their love
for doing good outside the home they
want to be alone to pursue that study
and research, they must have time TO
follow up their good works. and so
they form habit of aloofness, of self
absorption, that shuts them off from all
enthusiastic cooperation with their chill
dren. As a natural result their children
80 OFT of the home seeking that magic
spirit of frolic and companionship that
every young heart Graves and viii have,
if it's reach is within its power. There
is no doubt about it-that it is largely
our self-absorbtion, our stiffness and
staidness, that drives our children to
seek what we call unrefned society or
the excitement Of dissipation Home
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