The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-29
WOMAN,S REALM Lat
Your ChiLdNgM
By Olive Roberts Barton

London F1onore Wilsie Morrow's account of her sons junket into the far west, on his own, ought to inc terest all parents. The T-year-old boy developed q burning desire to trek across America in a car and work out his own salvation during vacation. What happened reads like Stevenson novel, or Bret HaTte saga, The youngster met trouble abienty, but he was game and Sre- turned a :, tired and wiser boy. one remark of his fathers caught my eye, when he first heard the idea broached about his sons plan; 'syEait till you deserve such a trip"
 AS it turned out, the endurance and privati0ns of the lad, together with his garneness and affinity for work. proved his spirit. He earned the concession. But how is any paF- ent to know what untried experience may do to boy or girl9
 Rewards Given in Advance "But, mother" 1" begs Robert or Mary, show can we learn to do things unless we get a chance to do themp" This is the other side of it. Just as we learn to do by doing, so we must learn to live by living. The parent must try to decide between risk and certain ruin.
 It is true, nevertheless, that many young people today are given re- wards in advance of earning. There 1 is a time and a place for everything, I but when it comes to permission, parents are so prone to give ahead
 of time. Suppose John insists on
 having the family car every day af- tier school, and in the evening. His I father, as head of the family, has a
 right to first vote about its disposal.
 John may get all hot and bothered about this little matter, and remind his dad that just being head of the family is merely incidental. Isn't he,
 John, as important @ factor in the circle as his father? And he is very likely to add that the old thing just sits there anyway, as the rest of them only want to play bridge, and i he may as well be exercising the tires.
 Putting Children Straight think the "Old Man" might begin right here to give John a dissertation on deserving" and earning" the right to privilege. Not that John isn't the finest young fellow in the world; he gets along splendidly with his studies and never gives anyone more than the normal amount of trouble. But because years of tireless ef- fort, of holding out against long strain, and the general vicissitudes of service, give an older person un- spoken rights that youth is not en- titled toa
 It is all right for John to take the car at times. Perhaps it was purchased with the idea of Johns enjoyment largely in mind. So much the better. But if his Dad wants to sit down and play bridge two nights running, without won- dering where his wandering boy is, or just merely to feel that the good old bus is right there if he needs it, he has learned" that right. He deserves to be master of his possessions, and John has yet to pay the price of work and experience to sit in at the speakers table.
 It is something to think about anyway. Many parents are in- clined to be too strict about let ting the adolescent try his wings. Maybe it is the car, or maybe a latch key. Each home has its problems and every parent must weigh this matter of fairness and then be fair.
 Too much experience has to be learned surreptiously, beyond doubt. But it must be planted in the mind of youth that there are certain fav- ors they have not yet earned. Priv ilege should be reward, not gra- /! tuity. all of the time.
 Copyright, 1886, NEA Service, Incl