The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-10

T~HE following letter will, I believe.
be of interest to other mothers
besides myself. and it may be that
their experience may be of serv-
ice to the writer.
L would like you to advise me a
little about bringing up my boy. 1 had
always felt had good ideas about the
matter, but have just come back from
a visit to an old friend whose two
sons are several years older than my
small lad and the practice she follows
IN training them has set me to thinking
Perhaps 1t would be we'll to tell you in
the first place that I was trained in
strict obedience myself, and that 1 have
tried to bring my children up in the
same way. II have three-two girls
younger than the boy.J
But when I went to visit this friend
found she had altogether different no.
lions. and that she felt hers were the
only right and sensible ones. In
word. she seemed to run the house for
the benefit of the children. instead of
thinking that older people had a. few
rights ana should have a few privi-
leges The boys were permitted to do
pretty much what they chose, and as
she said she never raised an issue with
them If she could help it. In a way I
think that is wise. but at the same time
l believe that sometimes it Is as we'll
Tor mother to have little authority
For example, have taught my boy
to consider the rights of others in the
nome and not to stamp and shout and
whistle through the halls when he may
disturb some one else. He has a big
playroom off the garage, where he can
make as much racket as he pleases with
his friends. and he also has a nice
room OF his own in the house, where his
friends are always welcome for quiet
games But my friends boys come and
go as they please. slam doors, leave
them open. whistle and hurrah and
make pandemonium without taking the
trouble to find out If their endowment
interferes with the comfort of any one
else.
My friend says she believes in doing
everything she can to make home at
tractive for her children and to make
them feel 1t is the best place in the
world. So do I, but I question If it is
the wise plan to let children grow up
without consideration for others, and If
they like their home any better be-
cause they are permitted to make a
bear garden out of 1t. I encourage my
son and I shall encourage my girls.
when they are little older to invite
their young companions here and I do
my best to make them feel welcome and
TO entertain them in any way I can.
How do you feel about 1t? You
must have opinions upon the subject
and I would like very much to know
what they are and to hear If the other
mothers in the Corner agree with me-
or not I think the motto of the home
should not be all for any one person. but
all for every one in the house. Do
you think boys dislike their homes and
feel they are repressed and put upon il
they are made to conform to the rules
of common politeness?
WORRIED MOTHER"
TINS letter has interested me- perhaps
more than. it would otherwise do il I
did not agree so thoroughly with the
views held by the writer. Like her, see
no reason why home should be made
bear garden for the sake of one or two of
the household, or why their rights should
be respected above those of others.
Personal experiences and observation
always suggest themselves in such dis
cl-sion as this. l have the happiness to