The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-01-08
WOMEN AT WORK

TNHERE was an old idea running around the
Il horse hair sofas Of peoples parlors at the
turn Of the twentieth century, which had
something to do with the fact that women,
having borne children were to put away their
personalities and be merely mothers.
Their compilations could face The hair
could be scraggly. Their heels could tilt and
their skirts could drag. Such things didn't mat
ter. They had borne children and because they
had, they must sublimate their personalities to
the needs Of the youngest members of the
family clan.
The man who sought to divorce his wife the
other day on the grounds that she had a job
as we'll as a child, would have loved the dear
old days.
He would have enjoyed the cookie shells
and the hair of departed relatives that was
kept under glass on the walnut stand. Most of
all he would have been breathless at the sight
of wife with jelly-stained apron and
smudge on her nose.
Anyway he objected because his wife held
a position in the economic world instead of
shaving for their child. Yet there was no need
CT her personal drudgery. The family had
money. 1t could supply nurses and profess
sionaI service. Had the mother been carrying
on job, to the neglect of her child the story
would have been different Her conduct would
have been inexcusable But she wasn't
In fact, if the dear young man only knew
it, his child is much better off because it has
a mother with outside interests.
Women themselves are rejoicing because
they are permitted to be people as we'll as
mothers. After all, it is pretty lonely when one
discovers that the days of mothering are over,
and there aren't any new interests to occupy
ones time.
The children themselves appreciate mothers
who keep their own personalities Oh, it is
easy enough to love your father and mother
and brothers and sisters. Most people do it
because the Bible commands it and the neigh
bors expect it. But to genuinely like the mem
bers of ones own family is different matter.
Frequently children turn away from their
mother because some other woman wears
prettier clothes tells nicer stories, has softer
hands, laughs more gayly When they do,
these same little boys and girls feel twinges of
guilt They know they should prefer their
mothers company. But staying with her be-
comes a duty when fascinating strangers are
around.
A mother who wants to keep her children's
liking, who wants them to respect her and
confide in her long after they have gone to
their first proms or taken their first brides,
must keep herself interesting She must take
time to develop a personality If she wants
to be a doormat, of course people will step on
her.
The mother, to whom the mistaken young
father objected as the other parent for his
child. was being kind to her small son. He
would grow up realizing that she was a capa-
BILE, entertaining person. Then, too, he wouldn't
see too much of her. She would retain that
element of exciting newness. Her widened con-
facts would enable her to enrich her childs
life
There is one more argument, too. little
lost child whose mother has died is a strange
derelict among its aunts and cousins if the
mother has absorbed the childs life by too
constant care. If it has learned to divide its
dependence it is better able to adapt itself.
OF course, if a mother is needed at home,
she should stay there. That is different. She
can build up her own glamour then. But when
she isn't, if she wants to work there is no rea-
son why she shouldn't. That is, unless her
husband GETS to acting foolish about it.