The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-25

offspring is. up to the present. local and temporary;
indeed think it will not grow into permanent ha-
tired. but will gradually assume two peculiar forms:
toward my children passionate and savish devo-
ton, which will make me resent my daughters-in-
law; and toward my husband regards, reasonably
kind. which will be reciprocated. My feeling to-
ward my relatives. on the other hand, is becoming
quite. quite fixed.
1t is no fault Of the children. wanted children
very much; am fond Of children. mentally and
physically; and the sheer mentality Of having them
| rejoice in. Furthermore. having been an only
child myself. ! want my children close together SO
that they might enjoy one another all the way up
seemed to think could have babies as easily as
a geranum has red blossoms. But find they COM
monty come rather hard and that ! am not the only
woman who for months after baby is born has an
aching body and dull mind and defective sense
Of humor. During this period ones husband is very
fathery toward one. and one begins to feel the small
asp Of hate nppins ones heart.
And when | crawl to bed at half
past eight no thought save detail Of housework and
child-rearing has found place in my mind all day.
have done reading save ships from book
propped against the sink faucets while | washed
dishes; and have simply not heard. not shared.
even mentally such stimulating conversation as my
husband brings home to dinner
know the house and children ought not to
take all my day and all my strength. If had had
special training in domestic science and child psy-
choogy and nursing. should doubtless be able to
do my work in less time and with far less effort.
But in college and university flew straight in the
face Of providence. which is war-name OF advis-
ing relatives and worked at mathematics. while
in the spare time which might have devoted to
stray courses in home economies as sop to the
gods. | took cello. Furthermore. am glad Of it.
T were to have vacation tomorrow. and finan-
cial windfall. should take two courses in mathe
mates at the university. and cello lesson week.
and bask in it as my sister-in-aw does in chiffon
underwear.
You ought to have help. say my relatives. and
add verse to my hymn Of hate for them. Among
the qualities for which love my husband gen.
crosby, sensitiveness, modesty and conscientious
ness and take it each Of these characteristics has
lower money-making value than the Others Some
day when we have got middle-aged. we shall have
the salary we need now; and just about that time
our relatives will die and leave US money we could
get on without If happened to be male instead
Of female. which God forfend, | could double the
family income by teaching at the university. but the
| university does not yet see its way to employing
women on It's teaching staff, and therefore scrub
the square Of my kitchen floor instead
| The truth is, however, that it is not floor-
scrubber and dshwasher that desire. ! could
get along with that work leave it happily undone
1t is the care Of the two children under three that
l. md tear
and the day in and day out Of it is undermining
merciessly my ability to be lovable and to love-
Furthermore have not the qualifications that would
Justify enrustng me with sole responsibility for the
growth Of human beings. Maternal instinct | have
in normal amount could be trusted to rescue my
infants from burning building. but that is very
different matter from knowing what to do with "a
hours worth Of bodily and mental development every
day. do not want nursemad; have no train
ing for my job but have an occasional vagrant
idea, and it does not appeal to me to exchange my
services to my offspring for those OF handma,den
with neither training nor ideas. The helper for me
should be trained psychologist. chld-lover. to be
sure, but child-lover with expert knowledge Of the
needs Of growing minds. She should have also
training in the treatment Of the smaller physical all
mcn,s Of children She ought to cost me two thou
sand dollars year, but in the present state Of wom'
ems wages have no doubt | could get her for
thousand And want her only half the day-fve
hundred dollars. Our income is sixteen hundred.
Such woman as have in mind. however, could
take charge OF very appreciabe number Of children
along with my important two. For five or six hours
day she could take care Of nursery-fu. and still
have time to live and love; while the sigh Of relief
that mother breathes when she ties her sons wind
sor under his chin and posts him of to school would
be breathed five years earlier. Indeed she might en-
10Y her children. and the sigh be dispensed with.
-Four hours day Of freedom for us educated. rea-
sonably intelligent. goodstock. mddle-class mothers
The possibilities are lmitless. We might even
have more children.