Evening star., 1937-02-15

Runaways
Discussed
Most Mothers Cope
With Threats at
Least Once.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

EOUR-year- Nellie was In q
naughty mood. Now, Nellie, stop
that. The next thing you know you
will pull the table cloth of and break
everything on the table. Go see If
Rover is asking to get in. think
heard him"
mo. You didn't hear him. You
only want me to stop. I'm not 60
ing to stop. See if you can catch me-"
mo. That is no game to play. I'll
play house. or blocks, or hide and
seek"
mo. I like run-around-th timetable
game. Whoo-oo-oo, try catch me-"
Mother was at her wits end, so she
made lunge after the flying figure,
missed it and was greeted by a louder
shout and faster rush. This time,
going around the circle faster than
her control allowed, Nellie slipped,
clutched the table cloth and the crash
followed. Mother spanked her lightly,
set her on a chair in the corner and
began to clean the mess in disapprov-
ing silence.
you're bad to me. I'm going to run
away" Mother made no reply. Again
and again, Nellie chanted. You're
a bad mother. I'm going to run
away" At last mother turned toward
her. "You want to run away? Go
right ahead"
Slowly Nellie slid down from the
chair, slowly she got her hat and coat
and put them on. She reached the
door, turned back and said, I'm go
ing, mother. Good-by."
"Good-by," said mother cheerfully.
Nellie went down the path to the
street, stood there little while. went
down the street as far as the corner,
stood there, turned back, went into the
next yard, and after moment on the
porch, entered the house Of her friend.
Mother watched the door. After half
an hour or so Nellie, accompanied by
her little friend, tried the door. They
whispered together and pushed it open.
Nellie is sorry and says she doesn't
want to run away" said Ellen.
Nellie can speak for herself" said
mother. ''If she wants to run away I
won't stop her"
Most mothers have this experience
once with children when they are very
young. Being told they may 60 usually
settles it. Always settles it for the
ordinary healthy happy child. The lit
tie one who persistently runs away Is
another story altogether. He is run.
ming from something that bothers him
in an effort to find relief. We have
to search for the cause of his distress
and remove it. Ill health. mental ILL
ness, wrong home conditions are likely
causes.
The adolescent who threatens to run
away needs attention. His nerves are
unstable There are things at home
or in school that press too heavily
upon him. Relieve him. Assure him
that he is cared for and loved. 1t Is
seldom that an adolescent child, who
plans to run away, tells about 1t. He
leaves without telling, secretly, and
with his plans laid beforehand.
He needs close scrutiny. There Is
something the matter, something that
he cannot adjust himself to. That
difficulty must be found. removed, and
the child made to feel himself ade-
quate to the standard that has been
set for him. It Is usually a higher
one than the child can reach, and 1t
is his failure to do what is asked Of
him that drives him to leave it all and
90 free.
Mr.. Patri will give personal atten-
tion to inquiries from parents and
school teachers on the care and de-
velopment Of children. Write him in
care Of this paper. inclosing . Scent
stamped, self addressed envelope for
reply.
tCopyright. 1877