The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-01
Queer Facts-But True.

wonder how many mothers are
having trouble with their young
daughters just now and are wondering
what on earth to do with them? Board.
ing schools all over the country are
filled to overlooking with unmanage-
able girls between the ages of 13 and
| 16. 1t seems to be the unmanageable
age-an age when parents sigh in de-
spair and friends and relatives shrug
| and say: well, thank goodness, |
don't have that girl on my hands!"
| It's the age when a young miss OF 10
believes she is quite able to take care
of herself. She says what she is going
to wear and what she Will not wear
and woe be unto the mother who I'M
dertakes to establish different stand
ards. It's the age when huge buns on
| the ears are considered wonderfully
stylish and utterly beautiful It's the
| age when mothers French heel shoes
are frequently missing from the ward
/ robe. When mothers fine waists and
long skirts disappear very strangely
when visit is made to the schoolmate
friend for the night! It's the age when
mother is old-fashiened and behind
the times and doesn't really know any
thing at all.
listened to girl OF Is speak her
mind yesterday afternoon. Her moth.
er asked her to do a little homework
after school. well, really, mother"
said the child with lofty air, 81 can't
understand why you don't keep maid
to do these things. When l get mar
ried, l intend to marry a rich man so
/ that l can have two or three maids.
! think 1t is fierce! I'll Just spoil my
hands!!" The girl didn't refuse out.
right to do the work but she made the
atmosphere SO disagreeable that the
mother got little satisfaction out of
her young daughters help. The child
sulked and did the work very poorly.
She was made to do it over. After
the work was done, the child took her
self pettishly of to bed.
It's very serious problem = this
endeavoring to remain on sympathetic
terms with ones children. Not one
mother in twenty knows the secret.
Most children, as many a mother can
testify, consider their parents merely
the means to an end-that of growing
hastily and happily to the age when
they can leave the home nest to do as
they please. Most children, regret to
say, sponge on their parents most un.
mercifully; accepting food, clothes
and shelter to the very limit of the in.
come-getting somehow very nearly
everything that strikes their fancy.
Parental love is growing to be a curse
In many homes; for know of moth.
ing more difficult than refusing ones
children the many pleasures and DOS.
sessions which they crave SO intense
ly. Mothers do not mean to spoil their
children. But there are mighty few
mothers these days who guide firmly
and strongly-givfng to child merely
that child's necessities with an occa.
I sional extravaganza wisely bestowed.
Ihere are SO few parents who com.
mand respect and attention and sacri.
lice on the part of their children.
believe l know what lies at the
potion OF tooloving mother heart,
She thinks or her own childhood and
because she usually believes her child
tne most wonderful creation in the
WORLD she wants more for that boy or
girl than she ever dreamed OF having.
she thinks OF the cases where yonnp
people made failures of their lives
anu pelleves II was because they had
SO little at home. She doesn't wan.
her child to go seS-ching into the
l @0PPihCbo 1lc las IdlIeQ To
get from his parents. She tries ever
way she knows to hold her baby al.
| ways. And SO she spoils him-mak.
ing him more dissatisfied than ever
The best children have ever known
were those who had the least. / have
Deen In homes where these children
were like wise little mothers and faith.
ers themselves-doing a great share
OF the work. waiting on tSeir parents
earning their own spending money
getting up very early in the morn.
ing to get everything done. rhey have
been poorly nourished often and often
and time again.
And don't know a Child OF well.to.
do parents who has had everything
possible done to make him happy,
who amounts to a row Of pins! Queer
flct'-Out true,
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