The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-02


good many of us bring up our
children to please ourselves, rather
than to serve the world This Is
natural enough, to begin with. no
doubt. These children are SO intensely
our very own, 40 wholly dependent
on US Their only world at first In
that with which we surround them
We all know that the healthy child
changes and develops and progresses
rapidly. Indeed, we know this so
well that we watch with anxiety to
see that the change and development
go on as rapidly as they should. But
We are less used to q correlated truth
that the healthy mother changes ami
develops and progresses also. AS the
child changes, she changes. While he
Is tiny and helpless and wholly de-
pendent on her. the mother fttingly
enough. would seem to possess him a.
wholly as Raphaefs famous ''Madon-
ma OF the Chair" seemed to possess the
child she hold 20 securely in her
ArmA
But as time goes on as the childs
senses are played upon by outside
stimulations; a. 1t sees and hears and
feels. and begins q little TO Judge and
choose, Its relation TO the world be-
comes esta blished, at nrst only slight
ly. but b. and by more strongly. Out
side interests call him. AS these in
crease. the child changes and de-
velops still more. 1t has more than
a mere passive relation to the world:
i, begins to have duties. These are
but slight at first, but they increase
with the child's growth and develop
ment. II begins even to have actual
responsibilities, which IL takes on. or
course. very gradually.
In time. its life. far from being one
OF clear dependence and Isolation. has
hundred relations and INTERPRETATIONS
with the outside world. The child no
longer remains merely cared for and
safe in ita mothers arms. Its per-
sonality and knowledge develop and
increase with great rapidity, 1t ex-
picres. and experiments. and appro-
PIRATES. 1t ie no longer merely self
iEh. It comes in contact actively with
the Hives and rights OF others, and be-
comes aware Of them. II no longer
belongs wholly to the mother.
This II thing most OF us realize
too little. and to which we give in
sufficient thought. 1t il a SOLDERING and
= very beautiful thing which too many
Of ne overlook. We look ahead with
dread To the day IN tfse faro. Years
when the boy or CIR, will leave Home.
II we were the mothers we should
be, we would realize that the children
begin to leave home with their very
frxt footsteps. and we would. instead
OF OBTAINING them. bid Their better Cod
speed.
Too often we put of the day which
would take the boy or girl from lbs.
Too often We educate them fer our
selves. not for the State.
There are two kinds OF mothers:
the ones who think of motherhood as
an nunhrfl.nttv IN nosAs,ss- and those
who look upon motherhood as the SUI
preine opportunity to give. not merely
to give themselves and their noblest
efforts. but the opportunity to give
their children ~ Mt and noble citizens
to live the lives Of noble men and wo-
men In the world,
This motherhood Of bestowal means
that from early years the gift Is given.
II means that from the very start.
though home 10 10 be made dear to
the child. II 10 10 be but a preparatory
and passing thing. It means that in
tenssly dear a. the child il to US,
we are not 70 detain him.
II there Ia = panR OF parting 1t is
TO be ours. not his. and lest We Lessen
his courage, ne il not TO know of our
sadness: and our tears are not to be
upon that bright sword Of strength
and purpose he is to WELD.
So does The motherhood, the true
motherhood. reAch out its hands to
many and bless In far and shadowed
places. So shall we care not 80 In
tenstly to have children Of our own
but 20 shall We care to give, and so
shall We attain to give men and wo-
men to the world, laura Spencer /
Porter. in the November Mother's.
Magazine.