The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-08

II you cOnt1ne your conversation tC
superficial things. Refrain from
discussing plans and opinions which
may arouse their managerial in
stincts. Go your own way without
arguing about what you do. YoU
can be pleasant without resisting
their well-meant advice which you
would do well to let go in one cal
and out the other.
Here is how one man handles his
-in-law. His tolerant view
point may be of some help to you
although it is probably little easier
to handle in-laws when they live
in your own home than when you
live in theirs Financial independ-
ence of parents gives one more
power.
Dear Jane Jordan-Two men
who work in the same office with
me were complaining about their
wives mothers who live with them.
This was more than 1 could stand,
for I, too, have mother n-laW
who lives with us and has for
seventeen years. When I married
my wife 1 told her mother that
her home was with us as long as
she lived and I meant it.
Sometimes she is not as agree
able as she might be, but aren't
We all affected that way at times
regardless of our age? My wife
is one of six children and my
mother-in-law' is partial to her
Thank the Lord for giving me
sense enough to understand my
wife's feelings towards her mother.
At times her mother is sick in
bed for week or two at time
and I help in caring for her. She
was willing to do this for us when
she was younger We have two
children and will get old ourselves,
and we are trying to set a good
example before our own.
This talk about mother-in-la
makes me tired, for every mother
in-law is some ones mother. One
of these nitwit men today was
small enough to say that if his
wife loved her mother so much
she should have stayed with her.
In my estimation no man who is
a man would make remark like
that L. R. G.
Answer-You are to be congratu-
lated on a happy solution of the
mother -in-law problem, but you
must remember that it isn't always
so easy. Probably what these men
who have angered you resent is
the fact that their wives are still
too babyisnly dependent upon their
mothers. Very likely they carry
their helplessness over into their
relationship with their husbands.
There is another angle which you
overlook. These men may have had
a severe struggle to escape from
the domination of their own moth
ers. Probably they married to have
a home which was free from the
constant poSsing of mother. Un-
der such circumstances it is almost
too much to expect them to be tran
quill when they find themselves in
the same identical situation.
You're proved your ability to be
tolerant with one situation. Why
don't you try to understand the
factors behind the revolt of your
friends instead of issuing a general
rOndaYrf1o tiOn0
Dear Jane Jordan-Our little
child years old has decided not
to sleep in her own bed. Say,
! want to sleep in the big bed
she says. I work to support the
family and 1 am in very poor
health. I am not able to hang
on the edge of the bed all night;
so I spanked the child. Her
father grabbed me and started to
beat me and told me to go if I
didn't like sleeping with the child
in bed. Now l have to sleep on
the davenport with two coats for
cover, as We do not have extra
covers. I cried all night and my
thyroid has almost choked me
since. Today I spent money for
my almost broken back caused by
the smart driving of my husband
over a year ago. Is it worth while
to stay any longer?
WONDERING.
Answer am tempted TO say,
No. it is not worth while" but after
all I do not know enough Of the
circumstances to warrant such an
impulsive reply. I do not know
what your husbands complaints
against you are. It may be that