The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-23
WOMAN,S REALM =
..
Your
Children
By Olive Roberts Barton

Il
Some people work better without
too rigid routine. Others have II
20 exactly by the clock. It all de.
| ponds ON disposition.
But I believe that, inonotonous o!
It may seem, the mother Of a young
family Of children will be less tireC
and get more time to rest, II she
can train herself to be q CLOCK
watcher.
Moreover, since babies have II
be regimented and rationed by the
hour hand, this demands the same
conformity by the mother.
II, when bottle time comes, she
Is irritated because she is in the
midst of something else, she is put
ting extra wear and tear on hel
nerves.
do know that baby schedules. a.
they are written, are regular tyrants
when It comes TO time. And 80, II
Is natural enough, especially with
other children In the home, that the
mother throw up her hands and
say that she hasn't four arms and
two heads and must do the best she
can. Which Is true certainly. But
except for feelings, she. can work
out a plan of her own, independent
of book, that won't bunch too many
things together.
Shift Baby's schedule
There Is nothing wrong, for In
stance, In bathing the baby before
he goes to bed at night, which
should be at six, or not later than
seven o'clock.
But the most important matter
of all is not to plan too much for
one day, or to "bite of more than
one can well chew"
One young friend Of mine keeps
up with her two clubs. She Is active
and must have interests outside the
family, she insists, and I agree with
her.
But she had two children quite
close together and all Of us have
noticed that she is getting irritable
and thin. She comes into the meet
ing with clothes flung on, hair awry,
and then sits with her eyes closed.
But some strange pull gets her there,
away from the house, where little
part-time helper Is solding things
down while she is gone.
You see, she thinks her outside
work Is a relief, where actually 1t
Is not. It would be better, I am
sure, II she could give UP one club,
or some Of her musical evenings, for
time, at least, and lie down while
the children are asleep. Or just walk
slowly about and window-shop. Or
go and call quietly on a good frined.
There are years ahead.
Often the Last Straw
She has as much routine in the
house that the added claim Of being
on time at meetings, preparing
papers and al THAT, Is just one thing
more. Now, even her house routine
is all mixed up and she simply does
things when she can.
I have another acquaintance who
laid in enough yardage at sale time
to keep her at the machine all
sprnig. She likes to sew and con-
siders 1t a change and rest from
baby-tending and housework. But
sewing is, and again 1t isn't. When
one is basting in a sleeve and has
to drop 1t because the formula isn't
made and IL is only ten minutes to
feeding time. shaking fingers and
knotted thread are proof that nerves
are strainedfi Sometimes baby waits
Sometimes the sleeves waits, but 1t
always calls for decision. And too
many such decisions are wearing.
A simple home routine, made to
suit the mothers convenience, and
outside responsibilities reduced to a
minimum that will rest rather than
hinder, are the secrets Of endur-
ance mad health. The care Of young
children and house Is big Job.
The nervously included woman
should use judgment, and not burn
the candle at both ends.
Copyright, 1887, NEA Service, Incl
A. NH On1Nvp q