The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1921-06-09

Gently started the discussion. Some
thing had been said about Hortense
and her children and Grace remark
ed, isn't little Jack Hortense's
favorite childf"
The Sentimental Mother was some
what shocked. my DEAR" she ex-
claimed, reproachfully, mo mother
worthy Of the name loves one child
more than anotherl It's impossible
for mother to have a favorite
among her children"
But the Practical Mother as usual,
brushed aside mere superficialities.
"Nonsensep she retorted, it is i'm
possible that any woman who has
more than one or two children should
not have a favorite, even if she
never admits the fact to herself.
Within one family the children will
often differ very widely in natural
disposition, temperament-in levery |
possible trait. If mother has sew
tTdl Culureu ~ 10 diiuoSt Cci odih 1ho'
there will be one among them who is
naturally more congenial to her than
than the Others" She paused and
then added with her surprising
frankness, for she is one who openly
admits what other people are apt
to conceal and deny even to them
selves, "Now my little girl is too
much like me for us to get along
tremendously. She is quick and high
strung too, and frankly, she often
gets on my nerves. But little Frank
is exactly like his father-very calm
and placid and easy going, and Pm
really much more fond of him."
There is something undeniably
true in the point of view of the
Practical Mother. 1t is possible that
in one of her children a mother may
find more congenial and responsive
nature than in any of the others.
But the question is not whether it is
natural for her to feel such a pref
erence, but whether she is justified
in letting it affect her attitude
toward her children so that the fact
becomes noticeable to other people
and even to the children themselves.
In large families we frequently see
parents who give certain prestige
and power to the eldest, permitting
him to dictate to the whole family.
Even more frequently we see par
ents, but especially mothers, who
favor the youngest child, granting
him greater consideration, though
expecting less from him than from
the others; in short, petting him all
through her lifetime. middle chill
dren" are seldom the recipients of |
extra favors unless in the case of an
only girl or an only boy in the fam
lily Of the opposite sex. I recall one
little incident of a stepmother of one
girl and five boys which l thought
quite touching. She had beautiful
book which they all wanted very
much, but which they refused to own
together. Naturally, she was un-
certain to whom he should give the
book, but finally, handing it to the
third boy, he said, "T'm sorry /
haven't a book for each one of you,
but l think I'll give this to you, Har-
ry. You aren't the oldest and you
aren't the youngest, and you aren't
the only girl, so you don't get many
extras" Then, patting him on the
shoulder, he added with smile, "Be-
sides, / was a middle child, myself"
Parents should watch very care
fully to avoid partiality, for if they
do not, the moment is sure to come
when the children will discover it.
AS soon as any such partiality be-
comes evident the favored child is
apt to become Spoiled" and the
seeds of that ugly quality of ieal-
ousy are sown in his sisters and his
brothers.
A child's nature should be allow
ed to unfold in the sunny atmosphere
of love and trust. BY studying his
needs, parents can help to bring out
the best in him, thus forestalling that
GOODNESS and lack of sympathy which
we regret to see between parents
and those adult children whose at
titude toward life is embittered be-
cause, when they were young and af-
fectionate they were subjected to the
chilling effect of the consciousness
that little sister or brother always
stood first in their parents affee-