The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-11-02

grasps arithmetic quickly when I
explain the method to her. The only
thing she is good at is gymnastics.
>She loves to climb and twist her
body in every shape, and hang by
the feet, head down. Even though
her body is as flexible as a rag dolls
she seems clumsy in her movements,
or rather she does everything in a
dream, therefore stumbling and fall
ing over objects and people. She is
net shy, yet not bold.
I have trouble in keeping the
other children, who get excellent
grades, from calling her a dummy
Even the father scolds her in their
presence, which is not right, and he
agrees it is wrong. I never scold
her, but try to point out how much
harder it is to be lazy than to study.
I could figure out my other children
and handle them but this one has
me puzzled. I am sure you can help
me. L. K.
Answer should like to know
about the other children with
whom this little girl must compete.
From her behavior I assume that
there are older brothers or sisters
who constantly outshine her and
threaten her sense of superiority.
Because she deSpairs of equalling
their grades, she sets up a pseudo
goal of superiority which she tries
to attain by being an acrobat and
a clown. These devices serve to
attract attention to a child who
feels that she is unable to i'm
press her family in any other way.
Possibly she is trying to Guido an
older brother by hanging head
down from a limb.
Scolding, or an other form of
encouragement is distinctly out of
order. She must find something
useful at which she can succeed,
preferably in some field where her
brothers and sisters offer no
competition Her timber body sug-
geSts dancing, which is not to be
despised as a profession. If not
dancing, physical culture.
If we had access to her dream
life, it would be instructive. If
she dreams of things possible to
attain, she could be helped to
turn her dreams into action. If
her fantasies have no reference to
fact, she must be encouraged to
regard the world as it is. But al
ways encouraged!
Any activity which ties her to
the objective world is to be well
coined. Without making point Of
it, you can put things to do in
her way, things to make with her
hands, and books which her in
terest in English requires. My
own children have found Hillyers
History of the World and History
of Geography more interesting
than their routine lessons.
She should be made to feel that
she has a valuable place in the
family, with some definite task
which is peculiarly her own, such
as the care Of pet or RESPONSE
bility for her own room. Scold-
ing only tears down her ego which
is obliged to resort to dreams for
conquest, emerging only for
frantic little stabs at the spotlight
through ludicrous behavior. To
emphasize her points of unfavor-
able difference from the other
children is to make her feel like
an alien in her own home when
all she wants is ito belong"
Dear Jane Jordan-Last Sunday
night 1 had date. Before the
fellow came my mother got mad at
me. When I asked her to come in
and meet him she said no. He said,
rs that your mother?" and I didn't
know what to do. We went to the
show and he never has asked me
for a date since. I think he was
hurt the way my mother acted, but
1 can not help it. How can I get
him to come back? How can you
tell if a fellow cares for you? What
makes a fellow like you some time
and the next he doesn't?
H. Z. M.
Answer-As a rule mothers
objection IS flip to the boys in
terest. I should hesitate to blame
her for his behavior, although she
acted in a childish manner in
allowing a private dispute to in
terfere with surface courtesy. You
can't go after him. All you can
do is to make yourself as charm
ing as possible to all your friends.
If a boy seeks your company fire.
quentIy and is unfailingly courte-
Gus, it's sign he likes you. For
yagaries I can not account.
Venetian chapter, international