Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-15
Your Baby and Mine
BY MYRTLE MEYER ELDRED

One of my readers advances an in
teresting point with regard TO petty
stealing when she says that 1t is fire.
| queptly because of desire to be popu-
lar that the youngster steals. 1t has
been found that If we run down the
causes of persistent stealing In child
we almost always find that he Is UNI
happy in his home or unable to keep
up with his Associates. This doesn't
mean that he doesn't have the same
amount of money to spend. All of us
have to associate with persons who are
much more prosperous financially. But
child does need something to be proud
of, something that he can do. or be, or
have that makes him feel his equality
with his associates.
If a child is physically puny and can't
be champion runner or skater or the
best pitcher on the vacant lot, he will
usually try for scholastic honors, Fail
ing to gain honurs of any kind he may
seek distinction by bad behavior. bad
associations or anything at all which
will make him stand out as an iridi-
vidual from his fellows. We can un-
derstand better, then, why children who
cannot meet the competition of physi-
cally or mentally superior children
often develop into DULLES or rise to
noticeable proportions by liberal spend
ing or treating.
The parent can help the child best
by understanding what lies behind the
impulse to steal. There are children
who steal for the pleasure of getting
the best of some one, but there must
be an inferior emotion preceding this
desire, or there must be sheer dislike
for the person victimized. Instead of
scoloing and sI1aming the child, the
parent should try to look at stealing
merely as symptom, an impulse that
satisfies some unrecognized craving;
Then he should find out what that
craving is. Here Is the experience OF
mother:
Il have lust read what you told a
mother about her boys tendency to steal
and I wanted to tell you that had the
same trouble and that my boy Is COM
ing out nicely. He not only took money
but he gave it away when tried to
make him an allowance. He proved
that he wanted to be b hail fellow well
met" and please others. In fact, he
showed the early signs OF the .dispoSi-
ton which at present Is developing into
courtesy and charm.
I UuI duNlCC was AABhb IN Aux 80 ~
went I did see that his health was ell
right, for sometimes adefoids and ton
sis, ears, or other physical defects may
be causing the trouble Children don't
look ahead and / think IL Is often be-
cause Of their desire to be popular that
starts the stealing habit. If they have
a collection of some kind which. they
can show of, that will help. II you
take an interest with them, you will
be surprised how 1t will rejuvenate
yourself. II possible give singing or
music or elocution lessons and be glad
they want to amount to something.
Don't be too pointed in any OF your
lectures and keep his confidence and
love. In order to do that one must not
be severe on his sins. None Of us Is
perfect and none of us has the same
temptations. I always read your COLI
umn."
and your letter is full of wise and
worthwhile advice In treating any
subject, though. one must always re-
member the limitations OF the space and
that I can't possibly say In one article
everything that is to be said on sub
iert as big as stealing.