Milford chronicle., 1937-06-11
HEAD VS.. HEELS
BY Georgia Lett Setter

everything Seems 10 90 hiOnB so
smoothly at your house, Mrs. Jor-
dan," observed a harassed young
mother. "If you have any special
way of bringing about this delightful
state Of affairs wish you would tell
me about it. / am SO apt to be in a
turmoil; my work piles up, my chill
dren are mischievous, get nervous
and then nothing goes right"
Il will tell you what my grand
mother used to tell me-" answered
Mrs. Jordan with a smile. "She said: Z:
Make your head save your heels.
Plan your work before you do IL.
One hour spent in planning is often
worth two of working
II think that is what started me
planning my work at least one day
ahead. Sometime during the after
noon or evening l sit down with
paper and pencil and make out a
little schedule for the next day.
First of all there is a list of the
really necessary tasks for that day.
Next the meals are planned. A note
is made of any duty or pleasure out
side my home that may wish to in
clude in my days activities. This
helps me a great deal. For instance,
l plan my meals to fit in with the
other work or the recreation of the
day. OF course no one, particularly
a mother of small children, can be
sure in advance just what she will
be able to do, but my plans have been
wonderfully helpful especially since
/ have had children to care for.
But when Junior began running
about he seemed constantly in mis-
chief of some sort. My nicely laid
plans were not Of much account un-
til one day / thought: Why not
make plans for Junior, too? 1t
worked like magic! OF course, Ju-
nior's mischief was just superduous
energy. Now supervise that energy
to a large extent.
while l worked in the kitchen /
saw to it that he had something in
tresting to do there or in the yard
outside where | could watch him.
For several weeks he was happy in
the kitchen If he could open a low
utensils. This meant that they had
to be washed before being used-a
small price to pay for a contented
baby. When this attraction wore
of / arranged another. When
went upstairs to work, he. went also
with a purpose just as definite as
my own. Sometimes he explored in
the storeroom; always some special
toy or book was kept in each room
where l worked.
But think one of the most inn
portant features of my daily plans
for the children is the care taken
t'theslittlespeciaf activities which
are so easily crowded out il one is
not watchful, are given their right
full time and place.
For example, l plan for at least
one story and decide what it shall be
in case the children do not ex-
press preference. 1t makes story
telling so much easier to be thus
in advance.
81 plan a game to play with them. |
Also a surprise-perhaps only a
walk or picnic on the back porch. |
Il takes pathetically little to please |
but how much it means to |
Iii of .us as a family! Besides this.
Zach day must hold something that |
feel aids in the moral and religious
of the children. 1t may
,e that the story we tell teaches
Iindness or generosity, or the game
We play instills admiration for hon.
'sty and quick thinking. Our sur
rise is often shared with some play
nate.
"Just try planning your day ahead.
here is no penalty when you fail
o follow your plans. and more times
han not you will carry them through
0 the advantage of everyone con-
erned."