The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-23
RR YOUR CHILDREN g. QI;vs Roberts Dsreoe ,
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When the baby is three years old, (his fourth year, count ing as we do with birthdays at the end of the year) you have almost an entirely new being on your hands.
 He wifi look the same and act much the same, and, except that he seems wiser and bit more in- dependent, he Is still the cute lit- tie fellow he was before.
 Now something gradually be- gins to worry you. He's getting bad. He doesn't take your word as he used to. He refuses to do your bidding at times and devel- ops a temper, With whom has he been playing? Where could he have picked up the irritating little habits? He is getting contrary and notionable, too. One day he will play with his wagon and blocks and the next he won't look at them.
 The Child Has Grown Up
 'T've lost my dear little baby" i you mourn. Indeed you have. Billy or Tommy, or Mary or Jane, | for there Is no difference as far as | the facts go, is growing up. r
 Don't. feel too badly about it. He is going to be more interesting than ever. Remember this, also. Even though he defies you bit, you are just as necessary and dear to him as ever Being near you, you are used as the guinea-pig for his experiments. It will be on you, mother dear, that he will try out that newly-found will of his. He has to match his great determina- ton, so recently discovered over night, against somebody's and it may as well be you.
 But how did he get this way? Where did he find he had a Will? ture has only waited until now to offer one more from her bag of tricks. Her job was to keep him receptive and content and let his fat little body get god start. Time enough for shenanigai1s. The time is about due.
 I ask all mothers of the three- year-old baby to display as much patience as possible during this year, the important and glorious fourth year that is one of the most momentious of all life.
 For the first time the child is aware of himself as a real iden- tity. Don't take him too terribly seriously, but don't let him sus- pect you of levity. This would be disastrous. He will be open to jollity, though. There is differ. ence between being laughed "at' and laughed with"
 Discount all you can when he rn .t.n n,,,lnn Aff ond dopann ef ra f in Q how contrary and obstreperous land naughty he can be. If you Igo in for smackings he will keep you busy. He will associate pun ishment not at all with his misbe- havior but think you just don't like him any more. And his de- veloping will, determined for the moment to come out on top, will go on determining itself.
 This transition period from ba- byhood to childhood is a discour- aging time for the mother who does not understand 1t to be mere lily a "period," In a year or two, although he may not (and l hope not) get over his little independ- ences, he will grow in Judgement and Knowledge and unless he has set up a deep resentment against the world (which I also hope not) he will most likely be sweet.
 By catching his interest and by little plays of pretend and by dips lomacy, miracles ca nbe accom- : plished. He on be disciplined without souring, Sometimes he may need direct discipline. leave this to the mother. But con- structive training bears the best fruit.