Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1939-10-19
Tots Point Out
Bad Examples
OF Parenthood
. YOUNG INSTRUCTORS
may aid dad and mother.
Often children's keen 0bser-
vations may point out unrec-
ognized faults in parents.
Efforts at fair government
always appreciated.
By HILDA RICHMOND

| by HlLDA RlC6MOND
| NEVEN mothers we're busily sew
y ing in the living-room, while
outside under the open windows
their children played noisily. There
had been call for children's gar
ments for large family whose
home had been destroyed by fire.
The sewing machines raced and nee
dies flashed. Presently the children,
exhausted from wild game, sat
down on the grass to rest, and their
shril young voices carried into the
living-room at a time when the
sewing machines happened to be 81
lent.
"My mother never, never would
do such thing!" were the first
words that were heard. eff I had
been bad like Jimmy, she would
have called me home, and if I'd had
to be punished nobody would have
seen it,
''Mine, too" agreed three more
young critics.
'I'm glad my mother doesn't do
things like that" spoke up a very
earnest young voice. "And another
thing she never does is to make me
sit still when there's company"
''No," interrupted another, eff l
come in with my hands and face
washed clean and shake hands, then
my mother tells me I may be ex-
cused to 60 and play"
"That's the way my mother does.
Ruth's mother makes her sit still
the whole time and it's awful hard"
Ruth would be as careful as any
body, when there is company, not
to get noisy if her mother would"
eyes, my goodness! It's hard to
sit still for an hour and have moth
ing to play with, and that's what
Ruth's mother wants her to do. I
heard her scolding about it,"
''Well, I'm glad my mother is not
like Bob's. Bob never gets chance
to choose about anything. His moth
er decides where he shall go and
what he shall do, whether it's i'm
| portant or not"
"My mother let's me have my say
about most things"
$50 does mine" This last was in
chorus.
Long before this, all conversation
in the iving-room had ceased, and
the mothers were listening breath
lessly. "I'm afraid they will begin
on our faults if they continue this
open FORUM" said one mother.
CI,iJdrar A cir Ea;r Coyarr-oan<
"Let them," said another. ''It is
doing us good to be praised, and the
hearing of our faults will not hurt
u.s."
"Bless their little hearts," said
third, II never dreamed they were
such keen observers. And aren't
they loyal to us!"
"And they are right" said the
hostess. 81 think it is shame the
way Mrs. Lottey comes out with a
switch in her hand to hunt her chill
dren. She won't injure their bod
les with that little stick, but I'm
afraid she may injure her oppor-
tunity to gain their confidence, with
her cast-iron methods of govern
ment."
"I'll tell you what let's do" said
another mother suddenly, wishing
to prevent further criticism of their
neighbor. Lets give our darling
instructors a little treat. I have
some ice cream in the refrigerator,
and it will only take a minute to
bring it over"
"Good I baked fresh cookies this
morning, and they will 60 nicely
with the ice cream" said another.
| The children were astonished at
the feast suddenly spread before
them as they sat on the grass, but
they were not too astonished to do
their part with their hearty young
appetites.
"Such surprised"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"May we call to Bob and his sis
ter to come over?"
"I'u say this is SWELL"
Chattering and eating, and drink
ing quantities of pink lemonade, the
children continued their picnic until
the last drop and crumb were con-
sumed, while the mothers, sewing
silently, thanked God in their hearts
that their little children saw and ap-
preciated their loving efforts at fair
government, and they humbly asked
for more light, more patience and
more skill.
National Kindergarten Association
SQru ira