The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-17
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BY MARTHA LEE

ClcleS upon Jne treatment OF par
entS toward children of the modern
generation. Here is a real problem
and one that has so very much
bearing upon the future Of these
youngsters, who are, I feel sure, in
the great majority, really trying to
see the light.
The children who are now be-
tween Is and 18 are more apt than
not to have for parents those per-
sons who were born the "day be-
nor are they moderns, but smat-
tering of both. Just enough one to
be innocent and enough the ether
to be needlesSly suspicious.
What FrightenS Parents
They are frightened of these
youngsters who hirt skirts above the
knee, who talk frankly about I'M
heard-of things before their "boy
friends" Cat least they were I'M
heard of in their day and that is the
day they are taking as criterion)
Of their daughters, who find hon.
est and wholesome companionship
in the company of a number of
boys instead of settling down to
one of their sons who read in the
open books much worse than those
their fathers sneaked up in the hay
loft or under the mattress to read
surreptitiously; of these girl friends
of their daughters who go out for
horseback and golf and swimming as
vigorously as the brothers of these
same girls, in costumes exagger-
atedly abbreviated.
That is no attitude to assume. 1t
is. if may be so presumptious as
to predict, a fatal attitude. The
thing to do is to live in the age with
your children, to try to understand
just what it is they are searching
after, to help them with the steady,
settled knowledge that is a par
ent's after he has lived through
the struggles that are confronting
his children.
Need for Sympathy
Be sympathetic and patient with
them. Give them the benefit of the
experience that has been yours,
without ever allowing them to har-
Dor the idea that you are Stacking
their train of thought, their aspira-
lions, their ideas.
And by all means get it into your
| T1fY1n-faY1f6c nf
youngsters are twice as level headed
as you were at their age, because
they have had the advantage of
talking more freely about things of
life. If they have been endowed by
you with the proper amount of in
telligence and normalcy, they are
pretty sure, with some subtle guild
ing on your part, to pull through
all right.
This outbUrst was all brought
about by letter from one of these
youngsters. She is being needless
ly oppressed and curbed from a per-
fectly normal inquisitiveness about
persons because her mother is of
the opinion that no really nice girl
goes out with more than one boy.
Forget that. A girl has right to
make a choice in this day and age,
and the only way she can make a
sensible choice is to become ac-
quainted with a number of boys.
There need be no dangers involved,
If the girl is allowed to bring the
boys to her home and entertain
them under the supervision of her
parents.
Anyway here is the letter.
Gear Miss Lee-Please write something
ships to his parents. Some patents DO 1ot
realize how stern and painful they are to
their sons and daughters, how unfeeiinR
Of course, children should be taught to
follow the straight and narrow" path,
but in 2 kind; Teasoning. and thoughtful
her actions are regarded with suspicion.
a girl IN her teens. just halfway be-
mother as a companion to share her lows lows
and sorrows. They should talk and reason
thing, out together. A girl loves friends
ing home environment to be the back
ground. She wants her parents to accept
them as a few street running shieks ant
shebas.
TWO months ago my mother and I were
the best of pals. We went places. saw
and did things together. told my mother
that thought a girl should have as many
girl and boy friends as she could. to fine
the best and incest ones. She came dowr
upon. that idea with a blow, saying thai
no nice girl would be seen with more thar
one boy. She told me could have one
boy friend to go steady with and to ignore
We had fights every night on this sub.
iect until did pick one. boy. whom I hac
known since grade school days. one night
I was talking with him over the tele.
phone and she came over. in a At o.
anger and hung up the receiver while
was talking, telling me I could never see
him again. He hasn't called since. as HI
thinks hung up. can't have any friends
now. and my mother has not spoken tx
me for some time. What shall I do?
BEE.
Are you sure the conversation hac
nothing to do with your mother
attitude, my dear? Don't allow thi!
attitude between yuor mother anC
yourself to continue. You must b.
the one to make it up. First, gair
her confidence in you and her sym
pathy and understanding will follow