The Washington herald., 1920-04-07
By DOROTHY DIX
Copyright, 1920.
Wheeler Syndicate. Inc.

vanity, however. there Is no doubt
that the mother obsession which
renders II impossible for a mother
to ever see her children as they
really are, and form a true estimate
of their abilities, is one of the main
reasons why there are so many
square pegs in round holes. and why
so many people are unsuccessful In
| life.
A very prominent business man
said not long ago that one of the
principle causes of bankruptcy
among merchants was that they
made a too optimistic inventory Of
their assets. They over-valued the
goods on their shelves, and put a
alsese on their price ks,ti than they would fetch
That's the trouble with mothers.
Their love makes them see the
children as dazzling geniuses. and
world wonders instead of the I'M
gifted. mediocre individuals they
are. and 50. instead of fitting them
to fill worthily the humble sphere
in life to which heaven has called.
the mother units them to make a
living by trying to force them into
some high place for which nature
Sally. for instance. has carroty
hair. saleratus biscuit complexion
and a dumpy figure. She dances
ike bale Of hay. and has the con-
versational nimbleness of a per-
forming elephant, but she is strong.
heaIthy, energetic and capable, and
has plenty of good. hard horse
sense.
II mother could see Sally as she
IS she would know that Sally's
chance or happiness in life lay in
her becoming a business woman. or
marrying some sensible. practica1
business man, who puts more stress
on a wife's cooking than on her
looks But mother ses Sally as a
radiant creature, born to shine in
society, and so she piles fine clothes
on her and hawks her around the
marriage market and breaks her
heart with chagrfn, wondering why
other girls have beaus and Sally
has none.
Toms a good, honest, industrious
lad, who would make a steady.
plugging clerk, who would work
hard and eventually save I'D enough
money to start a little corner gro
Gerry OF his own. But mother hears
IN his halting speech the eloqueuco
or an orator, and she forces him
into the law. where he Is starved.
A famous alienist told me once
tnaf 1t was a mothers inability to
see In her child any defect that was
responsible for an enormous amount
OF feeblemindedness. He said that
II competent physicians could treat
the children who are under par
mentally. while they were still very
young. thousands upon thousands
OF them could be cured. or at least
helped.
But mother love kept the mothers
even from admitting to themselves
tnat there was anything the matter
with their children. They would
say that their babies were "back-
ward" in learning to walk or taIk.
or that they were delicate" or so
sensitive" and so cover up the
mental defect until 1t was too late
to save the child from the most
cruel fate on earth.
II Is the same mother blindness
which refuses to see in a child any
biemish which keeps mothers from
helping their children to correct
their faults. Mothers know that any
other children who are permitted to
grow up wild and uncontrolled will
inevitably grow into the kind of
men and women who make undesir-
able citizens and defy law and or
der. She knows that a child who
Is never taught to govern its tenn
per develops into the man or worn-
an who Is a failure in life, and
brings sorrow to all with whom he
or she comes in contact.
But mother cannot save her chill
dren from their weaknesses be-
cause she sees in their uncontrolled
outbursts only high spirits, and
camouhages their RACES ss nerves.
This Is what turns mother love,
which should be the greatest bless
ing that can come to a child. often
into the greatest curse that can
befall 1t.
What the world needs Is a new
generation Of mothers who do not
take q too optimistic inventory Of
their o6sprtne.