Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-07
Your Baby and Mine
BY MYRTLE MEYER ELDRED.
Obedience,

Absolute obedience and a child who
minds the first time spoken to, who
never differs with his parents and
never has an opinion or plan
which they can't wreck with impunity
would be the state of Elysia tac-
cording to parents)--and surely
half-witted child. And yet 1t is
this state which all parents groan to
achieve-and a child whom they look
upon as perfection. Heaven forbid
that they should get their wishes.
A child who is Of a determined
mind--and who has wishes of such
strength that he will suffer to carry
them out, Is surely stronger per-
sonality than child who meekly
gives in to every suggestion made
to him by a parent and follows it.
That should be self evident. Natu-
Tally one cannot allow a child to
always follow the dictates of his
mind. because 1t upsets the house
hold in selfish way, or it Is dan
gerous to the child. Children can
not be allowed to break furniture,
walk on the street alone at ten
der age, eat forbidden articles of
food and any number OF things with
which all mothers have to contend.
They could and should be allowed
to do for more than the average
child is allowed to do. Most of the
nagging and scolding which falls to
the lot of the child is useless because
the mother won't take time to think
about the childs request, or being in
a hurry and nervous, says no for no
reason at all. Admit it, mothers.
When you are in good humor and
rested the children always seem good.
When you are tired and nervous they
are little demons Why? Because,
to do seems impossible and so the
day sails on with no rough waves
and breakers-but when you want
things to run smoothly, you refuse
every request, every plea to do
this or thaeand the children, af-
fected by your mood and their i'm
prisonment, get into every sort of
mischief
The small baby beginning to
crawl can be kept out Of mischief
and danger in a play pen. which can
be as ornate as one pleases. I have
seen them screened in like tiny houses
or they can be four boards, planned
smooth so as not to offer splinters
for tiny hands, and competently bolt
ed at the corners. They can be made
to fold so that they can be carried
from room to room and out of doors.
Why scold and slap and spank when
so simple an expedient removes almost
every cause for irritation when the
child is too young to be reasoned with.
Later the child can be made to
understand that none Of us can do
everything we wish. Society being
what it is, we must learn to be un-
selfish with our playthings, so that we
may in turn enjoy the unselfishness
of others. We will have to be tied to
tree unless we can be trusted not
to go on dangerous streets. For our
own good we must eat the right foods
so that we may enjoy health and all
it's benefits instead of being Ill and
miserable.
Most of the things which children
want to do are not harmful to them.
selves, they are merely annoying to
their parents. Overlooking so many
of these things would eliminate most
of the causes for riaughtiness. Just to
be allowed to do what they want to do,
even IL 1t seems silly and useless to the
parent, makes for contented and
satisfied child. Having ones wishes
and ideas continually thwarted is
bound to make children sullen, lack
ing in inventiveness and inevitably UNI
happy,