The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-09-23
.RARRNTa.
Your
 ChiLd!ngn
By Olive Roberts Barton

The other day my sister and I were going over our girlhood days. She CAGary Roberts Rinehart)- has written in her story many of the, things that made her sad as 8 child. And the whole rigid tenor of the times in which we lived.
 Parents were strict to the point of fanaticism. Religion had none of it's softer aspects. People were cruel in their judgments and chil- dren got the brunt of 1t. Yes, we had much to talk about. The punishments we felt were unjust, and the doll, for instance, that our father had brought her from New York, and she broke. She was whipped for breaking 1t. as though her own heart-break af- ter discovering the result of her fall were not punishment enough.
 By Way of Contrast
 I, too, had my memories. There was the time I was punished for crying about getting into boat, being scared into convulsions al- most. And once was punished for forgetting my overshoes and spelling a new pair of shoes. We compared today's parents and their new understanding with those of the 80's and sos. And then I said, Mary, but you WERE brought 8 doll from New York, bigger and better than any other child near us had. And I WAS talk en away to the lovely resort for the summer. We had everything. We had lovely home and our parents were simply grand"
 Certainly they were. And we loved them and they adored us. They worked and sacrificed and did everything in their power to make us happy" she said elo- quently. "When we look back, there wasn't much we missed. Isn't it astonishing how children remem- Der the things they resented and forget the rest2 Why don't you write about it?"
 Well, I have written about it, but not recently. And now am writing about it again. Because in all homes there are those unpleasant days of discipline, no matter how smoothly life runs otherwise in its blessed course.
 Parents Are Less Strict
 Today's parents are not nearly so strict as those of yesteryear. The children will be very likely to recall all the unpleasant crises while hte blessings bestowed will be taken as matter of course.
 I don't exactly know what can be done about it. You may not be here to set them right and ex- plain that you spent the trip money you were counting on to buy Mabel her new fur coat. Nor here to remind Bob that you could have bought a new little home for yourself in your old age had it not been for those years he wanted to study medicine. Not nGTe CO UGH 11OW U&lC NOSVOA AAAAS for Dorothy's long illness, and the nurses and hospitals, cost Dad all his insurance. No. They will re- member that they were deprived of something, a new hat, maybe; or punished for some trifle they were sure they didn't deserve. Parents are never supposed to make mistakes.
 The best thing is to try to in- corporate in the growing child the fak that he breaks more than evtn in this business of being your child. And to try to turn his eyes to your side of the mat ter of raising a family. He should look on you, his parents, as people; not benignant gods to tolerate. sac rifice and forgive him eternally, but people entitled to run their domain according to their best ability and convictions. (copyright, 1886, NEA Service, Inco