Milford chronicle., 1941-12-26
CHRISTMAS HAPPINESS
IN THE HOME
M. LOUISE c. HASTINGS

Christmas is on the way and no
matter how tragic state the world
is in, no matter how difficult the
home problems happen to be, we
mothers must strive to keep the
little world around US happy and
sane. Feeling strongly the spirit
of goodwill towards others is one
means Of preserving this tranquil
ity. 1t becomes a means of char
acter growth for all who enjoy it.
There are different ways of do
ing good in our small corner of
the world. One is through services
of love. No matter how young the
child is, little lessons of kindness
and helpfulness are always in or
der. The happiness that results Is
its own reward.
We who are parents give of our
selves in spite of ourselves every
day Of our lives, yet little folks
must have special experiences along
these lines, otherwise our sacri-
fees may increase their selfish
ness and mean for them me, my
self, first, last and always" which
when developed is difficult atti-
tude of mind to change.
1t is a simple thing during the
Christmas season to teach the joys
of thinking of others. When even
the tiny children make trimmings
for the Christmas tree they can be
made to understand that they are
serving others. But the preferences
of different members of the fam
lily must be considered in order that
this consciousness may be reached:
Mothers should allow the children
to share in trimming the tree.
There is happiness for the adults,
1t is true, in seeing the surprise
and hearing the exclamations when
the tree they have trimmed is first
seen, but sharing is the keynote of
home togetherness" Children who
do not share in this way miss
something beautiful.
/ think the mother should always
plan to have the children make
some of their gifts at Christmas, or
else provide gifts that means a
sacrifice of some sort Going to the
woods and gathering baskets of
cones for grandfather to burn in
his fireplace means time and work.
If the cones are shellacked and |
busted with driftwood powder (sea-
fire it is sometimes called it means !
more time and work, but how grand
father will enjoy watching the col
ored flames when the cones burn,
and how he will love to think that
his little grandchildren took the
trouble to prepare such gift for
him.
If you and your children go to the
woods, or stop in your car by a
woody road, with basket and shovel
and dig up tiny ferns, some par
fridge vines and several stalks OF
with it's berries, and
then make grandmother pretty
little dish garden, she too will ap-
preciate the effort that made the
gift possible. 1t will give her a
great deal of happiness.
One delightful as well as edu-
cational feature which our children
should have an opportunity to
share is giving the birds a Christ
mas feast. Every experience that
children meet is recorded in their
,ubconscious mind, and each ex-
1erience does its part in laying the
'oundation stones of character.
Feeding the feathered friends dur
ng the cold Christmas holidays
viii benefit the children quite as
much as the birds. ;
A little tree decorated with wired /
popcorn and cranberries is one ,
for this project. Melted
Iuet, nodded in muffin tins, wound
With wire and hung up in the trees, 4
will delight chickadees. Suet fast (
med to the tree trunks will be food !
or the woodpeckers and nuthatches
the empty skins of grapefruit !
With wire handles may be filled i
With prepared wild birdseed and
ung for the seedeaters.
We are always happy when we q
lake happiness for our friends a
nd the birds are among our friends 1
whether we are grown-up, or Z
My five or six years old. r T
-yo------ :