The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-07-23
ED YOUR
CHILDREN
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SHIPS INVOLVE FACTORS
PARENTS MISS IN AP.
PLYING ADULT GAUGE.
Seemingly Disreputable Youngsters
Also Have Right to Companions.

Children have odd ways of
choosing frienGs, or they often
seem odd to parents.
Mrs. Smith cannot understand
why Charles won't chum up with
her best friends boy and prefers
big, awkward Herman down the
street. Herman is two years older
than Charles, never combs his hair
and believes that manners are
something you have in a war.
But Herman has virtues quite
hidden from the casual eye. He
can take any mongrel dog and
train him to do tricks. He has a
tender voice and tender ways, vet
somehow underneath his awkward
m!ldness there is strength and a
way Of getting things done that
thrills small Charles.
Mothers best, friends son is
clean, Immaculate indeed, and as
polite as they come, but he is sell
fish and conceited about nothing.
He talks and acts with grace, but
underneath 1t all there is weak
ness perfectly apparent to Charles,
who wouldn't, by the way, know
what the words meant.
Supervision Versus Selection.
One of the greatest mistakes
many mothers make is a distress
Ing tendency to discredit the play
mates their children choose, and
to insist on selecting their COM
panions.
Naturally, there must be super
vision, because children may grav-
itate toward unfortunate friend
ships, as well as to the boy or
girl of worth. That doesn't do at
all, and the parent has every right
to step in and declare an embargo.
But that is different from such a
friendship as Charles and Her
mans.
If Charles mother only knew
1t, her boy is good for the other,
too, and certainly Herman has some
rights in the world. Twice in the
week he has gone upstairs, wash
ed his face and brushed his hair
when Charles said frankly, Her
man. why don't you keep yourself
clean?" And when Charles said,
You'll never be a soldier or a
policeman because you lean over"
Herman determined then and there
to hold those too-tall shoulders
back.
Children Accept Child Criticism.
Children may take criticism
from children they care for much
more to heart than the advice of
parents. 1t might surprise us IL
We could check just how much
character is built at home and
how much by associates.
Nothing breaks a child's heart
30 completely as hearing his moth
or disparage his friends. A little
girl said, Mother, don't you like
any Of my friends? You don't like
Mary because she broke my lamp;
you don't like Jane because she
never asks me over but comes here
all the time. And you don't like
Bessie because she gets 80 many
new dresses. I Hike them all, ana
II makes me feel badly TO hear you
so on"
Her mother thought It over ana
concluded the child was right. I'm
consciously she had adopted a
critical altitude to each one In the
little group.
II u well TO trust q child's In
stinets In his attachments. ! re-
peat that investigation and super
vision are necessary, but we should
use care. 400 often the standards
OF the adult are superficial. Real
virtues and other Influences good
Tor our children may be concealed
under nlpreponssnsinG exteriora. or
camouiiassd BY unfortunate mans
nerlsms. And that lltfie werd-