The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
MOTHERS HAPPINESS
px SOPHIE IRENE LOEB

She is a new kind of woman, yet as old as the hills-the woman with whom talked at the opera the other day.
 the milk fund, and this mother of four children spoke something like this: q wish I had four more. My home would be awfully lonesome if there were not a baby there all the time, and I am still hopeful of my little boy having some brothers. l cannot understand why so many women wall at the idea of having children. l have never found 1t such a terrible task.
 "Yes, I have some help In taking care of the children, but not more than the average woman. Of course, children get their usual ailments as years go on. but l take them as a matter of course. I have to be with them in their growing pains; yet if I were a business woman l would have to take the ills and thrills of a business in 8 similar way"
 Our other companions seemed to be amazed at this mothers attitude to- ward the child question and talked of the burden of bearing children.
 Certainly. everything is burden If you make 1t so." answered this mother, "but what matters In life do you have that haven't burdens? When 1t comes right down to it. I do not really mind it-having children and developing my home.
 Many women exaggerate the diff ficulties of mothering children. The trouble is they let 1t worry them too much They do not get a contrast.
 My children are good and healthy and between times I get some fun out of life. I go out, I do things and have enough time to devote to the ho ov,, not an everlasting drudge to myself, my home and my husband.
 Many woman uses up so much time In pitying herself and deploring what she looks upon as a cross to bear. If she would just make up her mind that things have to be done, that children must be reared and cared for and loved, and that you must have pleasures besides this the whole matter can be equalized.
 That is to say, that along with the trials and duties you can make life well worth living as we'll" she con- cluded.
 And I know this is true about this woman. She is not satified with four children. She wants eight, She has realized the joy of having them and also the vision of the future when they can be boon companions as they grow up. This is refreshing, to say the least.
 But with the cry of birth control and social demands and the good time habit of the average woman of today, the business of home and chill dren is somewhat of a secondary con sideration in the minds of many of my sisters.
 I cannot help wishing they could talk to Mrs. McGuirk. the mother l have quoted. It seems that she has learned how to rise above the sordid side of home building. and looks at life through the right end of the opera glasses.
 She Is not one sided or too ab- sorbed in one thing. That is why her two blue eyes beam with enthusi- asm as she talks.
 She knows that when she grows older and 1t is not so easy to go about to get some fun, she will retain her youth. because youth is all about her.
 It is something every married woman should think about.
 If you cannot have children of your own, think of the thousands of chil- dren in orphan asylums waiting for loving arm and the goodnight kiss"