The Washington times., 1918-01-21
WHEN FATHER
GOES AWAY
\ Word to Mothers
About Filling His
Place
By William A.~McKeever

SN OAETHIN0 IKE So niiiion
dependent children In this
country are now either
permanently or temporarily father
less. Approximately S5o.ooe Of the
fathers are absent nearly all the
time a. travelling salesmen and In
other business capacities. Another
10000. Il II estimated. are snlisted
In the army.
still another 15o,ooo are either
dead or estrAnEsd from their fAni-
lies Now. here IL . task which
might well challenge the attention
Of the nation; namely. TO furnish
this vast army Of dependent young
Americans . reasonable substitute
Tor the loss Of the fathers assist
Hnes In their care and management
That the unattended mothers OF
these many children are often
sorely tried and perplsxed to know
what to do for their young there 10
ample evidences. Among the 5000
letters that havs come to . certain
state Child welfare Director dur
ing recent years . large number
have contained pleas from tins par
. ticular class OF mothers-storles Of
runaway boys. OF unguGrdsd giris
and Of bitter experiences Of various
other kinds have constituted the
bulk OF these Complaints "A boy
needs q father IL the substance OF
the rather despaIrinE conclusion OF
the typical letter Of the class here
considsred.
But the companionless mother
need not despair Of success in rear
ing her children. provided she fol-
lows persistently = few tried and
comparatively simple rules. while
1t II folly for the average mother
to rely on merely her Instructive re-
sources in child training. she may
now easily obtain the benefits Of the
successful experiences OF many
others Of her class.
First Of all. the mother should
study her problem through the use
of literary hslpG rns National
childrsn's Bureau At wGshihEton.
the State Board OF Health. the
State University, and the Depart
ment of education In any college
or normal school-shess may be
called upon for assistance ana theiI
suggestions followed with fair suo-
cssA
But chiefly the task Of the mother
10 to choose . reasonable course
and stick TO It The typical mother
is too yielding. too variable too
easy" The average boy soon
finds her weak spot and takes ad-
vantage OF Il 10 break away from
discipline. The one who doubts
r. lost" 70 . rule OF success here.
Tue weak. uncertain tone OF COM
mand Of the mother who doubts
and hesitAtes In her decision 10
quickly detected by the youthful
insurgsnt Of the household.
Children live much By the law OF
habit. They acquire good habits a.
quickly ~ they DO bad ones. So
the habit OF obsdiSnos must be In
voked a. . fundamental Law OF
child training. \ sharp. positive
tone Of voice, an attitude Of cer-
taInty. an air Of authority-all
these may be easily assumed By the
mother and they will soon become
habitual and surprisingly helpful
Thus habit and rhythm are intro
ducsd into the order Of the house,
hold and life II made easy and
pleasant for all.
The next task n to grow with the
children That 10. learn to watch
for the changing order Of events In
their natures. Do not keep your
boy In eurlS and dainty white
clothes after he has become large
enough Of the rouEh-and-tumblS
of the street and school
Do not keep your girl playing
with baby dolls after she becomes
instinetivsly interested IN her own
clothes. After having discovered
what the child Normally and in
stInetiye;y Graves give Il 70 him In
At least . modihed and safe guard
Cd form Such is always . safe rule
Of training.
Finally. try to place your BOY
where he can have the advice and
example Of clean. manly men He
had better become somewhat rough
If not q BIT touEh-thGn grow up
. sissy boy. II his father 10 living.
then remind him rhat this age de-
nRnds the production OF = better
type OF manhood than was the rule
q generation ago. Urge that he try
TO become truer. braver. more eapa-
blO than his father ever had an op-
portdnity to become. Do not nag or
lecture your child with pessimistio
visions Of his failure or defeat.
Rather place the exaggeration on
the other side and picture his splen-
aid suecess-to-be.
It is surprising how 9 plug OF
Boy" will hnAllY straiEhten up and
at length amount to something =
provided you stay By him falth1p.y
through the dark period the