Milford chronicle., 1929-09-27
Home Education
WILLINGNESS BEGETS
WILLINGNESS
Pauline Herr Thomas

| dullu0 I1cII L IuOludS
Patricia is fifteen years old. Hell
mother has despaired of ever again
getting a glimpse of the little pat
sy'' of six years, running errands
for everyone, always ready to help
begging to wash the dishes and wa
ter the flowers.
Really" she says, sometimes I
wonder what has become of my Pat
sy! She is such different creature
at fifteen! I must beg her to do the
smallest service. That sweet spirit of
willingness has given place to one of
the greatest reluctance"
1t happens that I have been so
closely associated with Patricia Gin
the making" that every time her
mother speaks of this failing, which
is too often, there flashes before me
an incident in her childhood. To me,
at the time, it was a danger signal,
but 1 am sure it escaped her parents
notice. Often our close relationship
with our children seems to rob us of
proper prospective.
On this occasion her Daddy was
washing his automobile. Patsy
brought him polishing cloths, cham
ois skin-everything he requested
with the utmost eagerness, while she
watched the car emerge from its
bath, bright and shining. heard not
so much as a please" or a thank
you" from her Daddy. He was too
much absorbed in his task to think
of either, or perhaps he felt them
unnecessary. When he had finished,
he settled to read the news and had
scarcely done so when Patsy made
request of him.
Daddy, will you please fasten a
washline for me? I'm washing my
clothes, now"
"Now, Patsy, you know Daddy has
just finished his work and wants tol
rest and read. You run along like a
good girl and find something else to
do. Daddy will fix line for you
some other time"
There was a long moments hes
itation.
1 wondered what Patsy's little
brain was turning over as she stood
watching Daddy settle down to his
reading again. She said nothing,
however, turned in a moment and
presently found some other play.
She was Daddy's good girl"
She probably helped Daddy the
next time just as eagerly as before
in spite of his refusal to help her.
But, of course, there were other
times in her climb to fifteen years
when both Daddy and Mother must
have failed in a similar manner
when a willing heart encountered an
one in return.
At fifteen Patricia has new con-
facts, new interests, which in great
part account for her lack of enthusi-
asm for home duties. She enjoys
helping prepare for the school play
more than washing the dishes for
Mother, now. Some such change was
inevitable. But there is something |
more than new interests accountable
for what Mother calls Patricia's
"slackness at home" Mother should
remind herself that at every turn
Patricia finds her teacher and enthu-
siastic school-mates showing SYM
pathetic and willing spirit, while for
a good many years Mother and Dad
dy have failed to do this.
Having been a primary teacher
before my marriage I am fortunate
enough to have both a mothers and
a teachers viewpoint of this ques-
ton. have another child just grow
ing out of babyhood. Oh! how she
needs kindergarten" This is the
cry of a mother for her child. If
your child is being denied such an
advantage write to the National
kindergarten Association. 8 West
Fortieth Street, New York, for infor-
nation and advice.