Milford chronicle., 1936-09-18
81 WAS JUST GOING TO DO IT"
By Ruth Arnold Nickel


"Janet, you'll promise to stay on
your schedule while I'm gone, won't
you, dear?" entreated my old school
chum as she kissed her small daugh-
ter goodbye. BED at nine, brush
your teeth after every meal, make
your own bed and wash your socks.
You won't let her get into any bad
habits, will yOu?" she said to me.
Janet had never yet stayed with
me for a whole week. had had her
company now and then for a day
and had enjoyed it. had no qualms
about being her fOster-mOther dur
ing a longer period.
But a problem developed at once
the problem of getting Janet to re-
member the tasks of her mother had
assigned to her. It would have been
easy for me to make her bed and
wash her socks, but she was ten
years old, and could not brush her
teeth nor put her to bed! So, instead
of our former pleasant relations,
distressing situation developed.
Janet" l would say, half an hour
after a meal, you haven't brushed
your teeth" or, hesitatingly, after
Janet had been home from school
for an hour or two, Don't forget to
make your bed-Id do it for you,
but you know, your mother especial
ly asked me to have you do II"
The first few times this happened
Janet smiled at me. Il was just go
ing to do it," she invariably told me.
But in a day or two the situation |
became strained. Janet did not like
to be reminded. Her intentions were |
good, for she did not really object |
to doing the little tasks. But she was
energetic and interested in her play, |
and time slipped by more quickly |
than she realized. If l did not re-
mind her, often she forgot to brush
her teeth, or at bedtime her bed was
still unmade. But If did remind her,
especially to brush her teeth three
times a day, she felt that she was
being nagged. At last / decided to
offer a compromise.
Janet" said, II don't like to
nag you about brushing your teeth
and going to bed on time-and l
know you don't like to be reminded.
I'm perfectly willing to make your
bed or to do your washing. But your
mother wants you to learn to do
things for yourself, so that you'll be
able to manage your own affairs
when you grow up"
II know" said Janet seriously,
''and / don't mind doing the things.
l forget, but sometimes
you do remind me just when really
was going to do them"
"All right" | said, lets do It this .
way. Suppose we make a time limit !
won't say a word to you about &
teeth for half an hour af- l
er each meal. Then if you haven't s
lone it by that time, I'll remind you,
md you mustn't be cross. l had to I
le told to do things, too, you know,
When | was growing up. Wen give G
'Ou an hour after you come home $
rom school to make the bed-and {
he socks you can save up and do on
saturday morning-befOre eleven :
clock. AS for going to bed, guess
ou'd better stop what you're doing :
yhen the clock strikes nine" !,
"All right" said Janet. "Maybe it
ill help me to remember"
Several times she did forget, but II
he did not mind my suggestions, for I,
he knew that l was within my O
lghts, and was not merely trying a
D boss her" When her mother re- n
lrned, / told her about our bar Il
ain and she took the plan over as 8,
art of the home routine. She tells .
le now that it has helped Janet to
gercome the tendency to procrasti
ate. Janet herself says, "Of course -
want 20 do each duty within the I
me limit, so l might as we'll do
first as last" "