The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-24
UNRULY
DAUGHTERS,

DAUGHTERS.
There Is a time In the life Of every
mother when she begins to feel that
her daughter Is beyond her. In baby
hood and little girlhood 1t has been an
easy matter for the mother to keep
the upper hand. It is only az the
daughter approaches womanhood that
she develops the traits which puzzle
and often distress her mother.
Can this be my sweet baby. my lit
tie maid?" is the question which many
mother puts to herself as she sees
her daughter developing imperious
ways, slangy tendencies, insubordina-
ton.
1t Is at this time that theories go
to pieces. It is wonderful how theories
will work up to q certain moment
then suddenly we are convinced that
any other set Of theories might have
done Just as well, and perhaps bet
ter. II great tact Ii not displayed by
the mother at this turning point In q
girls life many dreadful things may
happen. There may come an entire
separation OF interests between her
self and her daughter; the girl may
develop tendencies which will end in
sorrow, and perhaps disgrace, and.
worst of all. in the future she may
blame her mother for her own short
comings
four girls successfully what she would
do If she had an unruly daughter.
She thought . moment aad then
said: I'D love her back to me-"
But that is the trouble with 50
many girls" said; they are spelled
by too much love-"
Not by too much love-" she correct
ed me, "by too much indulgence The
highest kind Of love is that which can
deny the object Of its affections the
things which are not good. The SEN
sible mother Is not the one who hangs
constantly over her child in an atti-
tude Of absorbed devotion; she IL one
who provides a normal outlet for her
child's energies. I believe that plenty
of wholesome friends will keep a girls
balance better than anything else.
IF I had an unruly daughter
should put her where she could ASSOC
ciate with as many healthy, happy
girls as possible. You people make
rules by which others must abide and
constitute themselves a court Of self
control. Moreover. the girl Of impul-
sive nature and warm heart f. often
much uplifted by the example OF some
older friend who believes in law and
order, obedience and politeness.
And I should provide the unru1y
daughter with occupations which
would take up most Of her time.
would find out what she liked to do.
and give her plenty Of it. Whether
music, athletics, painting or house
keeping, a strenuous interest in and
devotion to such an occupation would
be the best kind OF discipline.
with normal, wholesome friends
and plenty Of interesting work a girls
tendency to unruliness will be greatly
curbed, but more than all she should
be made to feel her mothers tender
ness The mother who is constantly In
state of argument and opposition
cannot expect to control her daughter.
The mother who loses her temper or
tries to discipline by force will fail,
inevitably. and she will not only fail,
but she will lose the respect OF her
daughter and SO be ineffective.
Generally the unruliness Of the
daughter is the result Of some fault
in the mothers training. This assert
with the knowledge that 1t may bring
a storm Of protests, but 1t is true. II
In little girlhood a child is taught self
control and obedience she viii not be
uncontrolled and disobedient The
man who has had army training is
not as likely to break the laws as
those who have known no discipline,
and the child who has learned to rule
herself can never unlearn the lesson.
IF, however, the harm has been
done, and the daughter is unruly. the
mother owes It to the girls future to
see that she il kept within bounds.
The mother who cannot manage her
child should put her where she can
learn to live q well regulated life.
There are first class schools which
will undertake the moral and spiritual
training Of girl. These should be
sought out and tried. To let q girl
go on having her own way, leading her
uncontrolled life. IL to court disas-
ter"