The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-08-01

"My own hope has always been
for a houseful of children. But yes
terday Rod said that it hurt him to
think of anyone ever making Doris
feel second. If ours could be boy,
he said, it might be different. But
if it was little sister it might upset
her psychologically. At least, he
said, that's what one of his sisters
told him.
Il honestly think Rod would be
happier if we left the child with his
mother. But he hates to admit it.
And so the screaming and crying &c
on. If dress her, Jean hurt mel
If I fix her lunch it tastes horrid!
When the aunts come she flies to
them and clings painting, and OF
course Rod and casual visitors draw
their own conclusions. I want to do
my duty by her, and see that she's
decently dressed for school, does her
homework, eats at least a part OF
what she should, gets to bed at some
reasonable hour. Can you help me
see the right way?"
Jean, perhaps I can. For you're
not the first stepmother who contra
diets all the old fairy-stories by be-
ing a gentle and well-disposed hui
man being who wants to give be-
loved husbands children a break.
Go Indifferent.
And first of all, I think you must
abandon any idea of controlling or
influencing Doris at present. Just
suddenly 60 good-natured and com
pletely indifferent. If she asks you
for help dressing, make no COM
ment. If she refuses her normal
food and demands specialties, leave
it to her father and the cook. If her
nurse-supposing her to have one,
you don't say,-appeals to you, pass
the appeal straight on to father,
grandmother, aunts. If she's rude,
smile. If she demands her fathers
attention, concede it amiably. If
he questions you about her, say leni-
emily that she's only small girl
after all, and she'll grow wiser.
This course cannot fail. 1t re-
moves you entirely from the scene
of combat and places responsibility
where it belongs. Once you adopt
it, the more outrageously Doris acts
the better for you. Her best clothes
will be speedily destroyed, her
grandmother and aunts will grow
tired of more-spoiled-th
child who visits them at odd hours
with all sorts of demands. And of
the whole distracted circle you will
be the only one still smiling and re-
mote.
Order Out of Chaos.
By all means have children. Go
straight ahead and fill your nursery
with girls and boys. With every one
OF them you strengthen your own
position and rationalize hers.
AT 10 Doris will be an ORDERLY
little creature, perhaps silent and
jealous and embittered in her small
soul, but grown out of her baby non
sense. If you can wait for that
hour, and befriend her in the mean
while in steady, gentle, patient
ways, you will reap a rich reward.
1t seems too bad for grown-ups to
have to scheme against a small girl
IN this fashion. But the mischief is
not OF your choosing, and little
Doris must learn common sense
sooner or later.
AS a matter of fact, she will
Spoiled children may grow into dis
contented and twisted childhood, but
they sooner or later stop the teas
ing, tantrums, spelling of clothes
and scorning of food. They must, if
they are to live at all. I've known
a great many tyrants of five who
ike Doris have been spoiled by a
series of circumstances.