The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-17
Child Guidance
by
Frank Howard Richardson
M. D.. F. A. c. P.
Black Mountain, N. C., and
Brooklyn. N. Y.
CHOOSING YOUR CHILD'S
RELIGION


II don't consider it fair to a
child for his parents to choose his
religion for him." said a modern
mother to her minister, who had
been asking what religious train
ing she was giving her son. Gust
as soon as James is old enough to
make an intelligent choice he must
decide for himself. Until then, he
is going to have no religious in
struction that might prejudice
him in favor of his fathers de-
nomination, OF mine"
"Of course you'll be equally
fair about other important mat
ters?" he inquired courteously.
at will certainly be interesting to
see what language he chooses to
speak, when he is old enough to
make an intelligent ch o i c e.
French is a graceful language /;
and German is so forceful. Pm so
glad you are not going to force
him to speak English, with all its
slang and other imperfections."
"That's a different matter en-
tirely. Of course he can't get
along without a language! He'll
speak what we speak; and when
he gets older, he can supplement
this as he pleases."
"No more can he get along
without religion, without suffer
ing from a loss of emotional sta
bility that he can i'll Afford" re-
piled the wise man. eff as has
been observed, man is incurably
religious then children are re-
markably like their father. If not
given a religious training, by their
parents.-wise, tolerant and un-
derstanding, yet clear and con-
vincing-they vii! adopt some
thing far less desirable for them
selves. If, like so many modern
parents. you are uncertain as to
just what you believe, you'd bet
ter teach what little you are sure
of without emphasizing your
doubts. He'll have plenty of time
for doubts. later on"
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION:: Dear DR.. Richard
son: When | told you about our
meal hours, in answer to your
question about my boy who would
not eat his supper at night, you
told me to give him something to
eat at 4. You said that if he went
from 1 until 7, his hunger Would
pass over into faintness. Yet |
have always been told that a child
should not eat between meals.
Can you explain this apparent
contradiction?
ANSWER: Easily. Eating be-
tween meals" usually means eat
ing an hour or so before the next
meal. This almost always destroys
appetite. But eating at is not
between meals eating;" it's eat
ing another meal, when dinner
doesn't come until 7. Just call it
afternoon lunch" and see if he
doesn't eat more, instead of less.
Meanwhile. remember: no be-
tWeen-meals eating!"
QUESTION: Though I am no
longer a child, my suffering start
ed in childhood, when | fancied
myself an unloved child. Today |
still stutter. | stutter worse with
my husband. who has no patience
with my speech defect, though he
loves me dearly. How do you ex-
PLAIN this; or is it just my imag-,
ination?
ANSWER: l wish your husband
could realize that suffering is al
ways made worse by the wrong at
titude of those about us: and es-
pecially by the critical attitude of
those we love best. It is as cruel
and as ignorant to "have no pa
tience with" a sufferer from
speech defect, as it would be to
feel that way about a person with
a broken leg. You may as well re-
alize that as long as his attitude
persists, efforts at speech correc-
ton will probably be Intellectual
in your case. .'. b.