The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-07
HY. YOUR C.hIILDREN'!
ey Dive Roberts Hastoe :
My tS isf6 t skIt q M

We npproach May list, moving time in most places. and planting. fine children in different worlu from that one they have known'
 1t means three things to tns children: leaving the plnymhlvS they have known and loved hnu who constituted their worlo, es' tabiIsbing themselves ir new eD' vironment often in hostile coiI' munity that regents newcomers and sitting tn strange scbooI wi'n fifty new faces about them ana v teacher to whom they mean, at tn" moment, little or nothing.
 still another matter consplres to make their lot harder. Mother will Do too busy with pGperlng and painting and curtains and perhaps her seedlings too, to give much ~. tention to the transplantcd child and at night dad will be busy with hammer and linoIcum and the hinges on the garage door to % more than order Johnny to hold the fiashiIght or hunt for more nails.
 The result is that the confused little boy, or girl. has no court or appeal or bureau of advice and ne fights his battles alone.
 4 Lone Fight
 All children fight all battles alone. It cannot be any other wDy because life is peculiarly personal thing for ali of ug, both young ana old, He must use his mind and often his muscle in proving his worth to the intrcnched. He stands on his own morit, becnuse children are cruel and almost in. yariably adopt the spirit or You've got to show us,' before they make room bn the ranks ana absorb the stranger aB one of them.
 Everything conspircs 10 mako Y tough for the recently moved child.
 Teachers do all they can as T rule to temper the shock. But they too are largely helpless. WheD they say, TWO have new boy with us and l want you al to be klnn to him." Willy Wilkins is likely to wink at Timmy Thomas, which means, If he thinks he's going 10 be teachers pet, well oven me score nt o'clock. You hold my Doohs hHu iH F"H "" mud"
 And still another thing makes it harder. Where he lived before nc was important. He had frlendn and they were loyal. He learned to regard most children as trust. worthy and did not suspect that those very friends Of his were oit' on bitterly unfair to the stranger.
 SI h stftfl hA N0nnlU- cd on the same footing in the new place and when he IS either refii- cd or hazed it comes as n double shock unless he is n thick skinned youngSter who can take it hs comes.
 saParcntal Understanding Helps
 The child has to make his own adjustments, of course, but it is good thing for parents to keep their eyes open and not think that everything that happens is John ny's fault.
 If there is too much champion ing or interfering it may reverse his progress in the community bee cause his neIghbors will demand self proof and not be much in syIn- patby with his mothers estImn- ton or help.
 However, here and there in many small ways he can be helped. if he thinks his situation is af least understood at home it will give him q double srmor.
 One thing do suggest. If be can find one good friend at first itJ will help. But again here lies an- other danger The friend bImsclf may be persona non grata with the crowd and an ally may have 10 share in his misfortune. It r something to think about and wora out as resourcefuily as possible.