Evening star., 1940-12-09
.'T''een>Agers'
Need Help
Socially
g :. Mothers Should Be
-
/: Cooperative and
r: Understanding
BY BETSY CASWELL,
Woman's Editor.

It may seem little early to start
talking about the Christmas holi-
days-but at this season of the year
things have a way Of gathering
momentum at such a pace that they
rush past us before we can take q
good look at them.
The period OF vacation at Christ
mastime is the gayest, the most
packed with parties and general
fun for the school-age boys and
girls Of any time in the whole
year. Because the time is short
everything is crowded into q week
or so, and the youngsters never
seem to stop whirling day or night.
And this is as it should be. They
are young, they have been working
hard, and they are headed for the
dreariest, longest and toughest term
Of the school year. Let them enjoy
this respite to the full. Don't be too
fussy about late hours, engagements
coming so thick and fast that there
seems to be no time for rest in be-
tween. A little "gadding" isn't 60
Ing to hurt them for short time
and the happiness and relaxation
and youthful enjoyment will do
their morale a world of good.
If you have a sub-deb daughter,
plan for her fun in advance, for a
girl of that age is apt to have hard
time at parties where she is not
well known to the boys and girls
Who have been attending other
schools. Give party for her, ask
ing as many other youngsters as
you can, to start the junior social
ball rolling. Encourage her to bring
her friends to your house; see that
they have plenty of soft drinks, hot
chocolate or some simple fruit bev-
erage and cookies or cakes on hand
to dispense to the guests. Make the
youngsters feel that they are well
come-and you've made big stride
toward your daughters popularity.
AT the awkward age" she can't
achieve this alone and you must
be ready and willing to extend a
firm, helping hand whenever she
needs it.
II you are the mother of a teen
age boy, remember that he will re-
sceive any number of invitations
= boys always debut that that does
not relieve you of the obligation
of entertaining for him. Those in
. vitations should be returned, and
at some time during the holiday
you should make special effort to
get a group of his friends together
at your home for q small dance, or
games party-or you might take
r them to a theater, movie or a
hockey game. Just so that you do
something 50 that he won't always
be on the receiving end, which is
bad training for his future social
life.
Both girls and boys in their early
teens-and even later for that mat
ter-are extremely sensitive about
looking different" from the rest Of
their group. If all the girls in your
daughters circle wear long -skirted
dresses to parties, don't make her
conspicuous and the laugh OF the
"stag-line" by insisting that she 90
in knee-length affair AS a matter
Of fact, the longer skirt will give
her more grace and poise, success
fully disgusting the "coltish'' look
that Is the bane of the Teen-ager's
existence. Also, she will have an
equal chance to shine on the
dance floor with the other youthful
glamour girls, and not be passed
by because she is too babyish- look
ing for q young man of Il or so to
be seen with.
.'re Let a good hairdresser teach your
sub-deb how to arrange her hair
smply and becomingly. If she is
sallow and pasty as to complexion,
watch her diet. give her the proper
soaps and brushes, and show her a
sensible routine for stimulating the
circulation in her face. If her nose
shines irrepressibly-g her a pref
ty compact with a good quality OF
loose powder, and let her use it
If you don't she'll borrow some one
else's the minute you are out Of
sight, and may perhaps add an in
fection to her skin problem, from an
unclean puff or from a poor grade
Of powder.
- The average boy and girl in their
teens have hard roads to hoe. They
are beginning to feel the need of
grownup aids to poise and social
nderstanding-and too often they
are slapped down by the very per-
kon who should be most helpful
mother. The fact that you forbid
cosmetics isn't going to prevent
their use away from your eye; the
fact that you don't want daughter
:"