The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-13
Temper It With
Fairness Says
Author

You stay at home at night, |"
groWIed Mr.. Lucas. II won't
have my children traipsing
around after dark
We'll, father. we have to work
during the day. If we don't go
ut night, we never have any
pleasure. gasped Meta, while her
brother stood gloWering at his
father.
'sPleasurel Pleasurep' sneered
the man. "All young folks think
about these days is pleasure. 4
won't have you running wild.
That's enough-you stay home
nights!''
Mrs. Lucas sat in panied silence
listening to her husbands un-
reasonable demands. Meta, IS;
David, two years younger, went
to work every morning at
o'clock and came home joyless
and tired every evening. They
are good children" thought their
mother. why should they be
denied little diversions that their
young friends enjoy"
Al o'clock the weary old
father was asleep and Mrs. Lucas
was locking the doors and win
dloWs for the night. AT a front
window she paused to look out
for q moment; then she saw an
automobile waiting in front of
her house. And the next minute
out came David with Metafrom
the alleyway and climbed into
the car with their friends.
Al feeling of satisfaction mingled
with the mothers feeling OF dis
may. The children were disobey-
ing their father.
What should she do? She had
always held their confidence.
They knew that she did not OBJ
ject to their going to a picture
show at night. They needed some
body in whom they could confide.
She must keep their companions
ship. And yet she trembled for
the result of their disobedience
and deception.
What would you have done
under the circumstances?
IN the Donovan family the
mother is the one who is ul1-
reasonable and Dorothy is the
sufferer.
il Dorothy takes down her sport
coat to wear her mother insists
that she put on raincOat. Ii
the girl takes up a short story
and starts to read her mother
makes her practice on the piano.
If Dorothy decides to have a
sandwich and cup Of tea the
mother decides that chocolate and
n. n 2 -.
daughter chooses the business
administration course at school
her mother declares that she must
pursue the course in education.
And so it goes. month in and
month out. The woman is per-
verse and contrary, and she takes
It out on Dorothy.
Daughter, being a peace-lOving
soul, pretends to obey; then
eweetly circumvents her mother
IN devious ways best known to
teen-age girls.
Occasionally she weeps on her
patient fathers shoulder. He pats
her back and murmurs: There
there. Honey" but that is about
al he can do. He neither wants
10 add to his daughters distress
nor censure his wife.
You can call to mind one or
more such parents. The world has
entirely too many Of them taking
the joy out of life. If the other
parent is the right sort, he or
she has q delicate situation to
face.
There are two things to re-.
member in a case like this. The
character, the welfare, the safe
guarding OF the child in question
Is Of more Importance than any.
thing else. A little diplomacy or
golden silence at critical moments
will help.
Unreasonable and unjust people
are usually very stubborn, and
open opposition only sets them
more firmly in their decisions. II
your child's other parent is that
sort of person, the youngster
needs your sympathy, your conf
dence and your .tactfuI handling
more than ever. If you are big
enough and kind enough and
smooth enough maybe you can get
by without aligning yourself
against your mate or against your
child.