The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1933-07-06
EPYOUR
CHILDREN
By Olive Roberts Barton
S5sss b VA sfsSse7: M
Showing Children Too Much
SOlicitudc Encourages Wrong
Mental Attitude

Showing Children Too Much
sOlicitudc Encourages Wrong
Mental Attitude
"DIck do eat your iunch." I'm
not hungry"
when your mother comes
home she will find you all skin
and bones then she will think I've
starved you"
Dick regarded his aunt for an
instant. She did not know It but
instantly his young head had done
some quick calculating. Some
thing like this. 1T would be very
interesting II mother came home
and found mo pale and thin and
sick looking. What a lot of at
tention and fussing I'D get then"
Power OF Suggestion
He folded his napkin and left
the table without changing express
sion as children do--Sphinx faces
they are--and his poor aunt never
guessed that she had definitely
started something that was to last
through her stay.
Even Dick didn't know In 30
many words himself what he had
decided TO do, the power OF sug.
gestion works In riddles. But his
mind has a plan drawn that would
keep him occupied day and night
"Dick! Dick! Where are you?
Get Harold and do an errnnd for
me, will you? Oh, there you are.
It's only down to the store. What's
the matter? Feeling sick?"
I guess not. I'll 30. I just
don't feel very good, that's nll."
Dick got UP Off the swing like an
old, old nun and reached listlessly
for the money.
Heavens, Dick Morton, II you
dare to take sick now your mother
will never forgive me. She'll never
let me In the house again." Z
A Chiid's Mind at Work
Dick looked dismally at the
petunias, although this was all
cheering news. He likes his Aunt
Frances well enough but he wasn't
crazy about this idea OF his mother
and father going off on u vacation
and leaving him at home with her.
Aunt Fran, maybe n little leo
cream would cool me off and make
me feel better"
Eyes, do get some. Here's some
more money. You didn't eat your
lunch and ! can't have you starry
Ing"
Dick walked slowly over toward
IInrold's but when no got out OF
sight he ran.
Now what followed may seem to
be far beyond the ken OF child
OF nine, but that IN just been use
we don't guess how children
minds often work.
Moreover, please remember that
Dick did not deliberately do this
but his mind was determinodly
seeking the means to an end. IL
had the impetus OF suggestion
from Aunt Fran and II was carry
Ing on as hard Ms II could 20,
Dick knew that snrsaparllla pop,
u six-lnch pickle ana chocolate lee
cream had once made him sick.
And now no got nll three and ato
them.
Parental Affection
lie was sick. Doctor Wylie was
called, Mother got u letter that
Dick hadn't been we'll" but waa
all right now.
She shortened her visit by three
days and came home. Dick WA
perfectly all right but no didn't
smile when she came In. Ito adopt.
Cd the role of a dying catfish and
lay nll over the place.
"My dnrling" Ills mother held
his head TO her breast. "f'll never
never 20 away again. Fran, what
did you dor"
Poor Fran had done nothing but
suggest IN interesting experiment
by nix sample words.
There In u sermon In this story
The power OF mental suggestion IA
terrific. II never does to drama
tize q child's condition Or state OF
mind to him. ItNleads 20 things.