Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1932-03-10
DEGREE OF BADNESS
Lucy Chandler Fuller

-t--
u won't pick up those toys. you old
foodle -dop shouted Peter.
Peters mother walked calmly down.
stairs and called back casually, Hurry
Peter, and get your things put away
so that we can take Aunt Emily home,
Perhaps she'll let you see the baby
rabbits again"
Aunt Emily looked up Indignantly at
Peters mother and exclaimed, II for
one don't understand this modern way
of bringing up children. If child of
mine had spoken as impudently to me
as Peter Just spoke to you he would
have been spanked
Sometime I'll try to explain" re-
piled Peters mother.
Just then Peter came running down
the stairs. do you think therell be
time to see the rabbits2' he asked
breathlessly.
Il hope So" said Mother as Aunt
Emily remained silent.
although 1 don't approve of your
methods, Ann" put in Aunt Emily a
short time later, as Peter ran off to
the rabbit hutch, II hope you give me
credit for not interfering with them,
If that had been my son he would
have seen no rabbits after such i'm
pudence."
Il do appreciate your self-restraint
Aunt Emily" replied Peters mother
I'm only hoping that some day you'll
understand my reasons for treating
Peter as I do. I don't consider that
he was impudent today for he was only
initiating what he had heard some
other child say. paid no attention
to his calling me an old foodle-do'
for I don't want the habit of using
such language and tones to grow on
him. If he knew that he had made
an impression on me he certainly
would try the thing again. The "rab-
',irs' were chiefly to give him goa
towards which to work. You saw how
quickly he picked up his toys"
But will letting the first impudent
reply pass uncorrected cure Peter2'
asked Aunt Emily.
"It may not" replied Peters mother
especially as see no way Of pre-.
venting Peter from playing with thi.
rude child whom he is initiating.
shall continue to pay little attention
to it,. however If child fails to gel
a reaction from something he does, b:
is very apt eventually to forget it. i
the rudeness persists, I shall, o
course have to adopt more strenuou
methods"
| After faw days Of non-resistenc,
on the part of his mother Peter dit
forget to be impudent. When Aun
Emily visited at Peters home a month
later, however, Peter had already ac'
quired another bad habit He threw
pebbles or mud at cars as they passed
the house.
] That afternoon as the little DO!
stood ready to take Aunt Emily HON,
and see the rabbits his mother said
You can't go today, Peter, and 70,
know why"
| Then she drove off leaving Peter K
vail piteously OH the curb.
$50 you do punish" remarked Aun
Emily, somewhat sarcastically.
"Of course punish" replied Peter
mother, when more indirect methods
won't work. I realize that Peter il
going through the initiative stage. Lot
of things he does aren't really as ter,
rible as they seem to us who arr
grown up and if they can be cured b!
non-resistance so much the better
4 Sometimes they can't Then have tt
punish as did tonight, for throwing
stones at automobiles is really gray,
offense. I try to distinguish between
what is truly harmful in Peters con
duct and what is merely annoying O.