Evening star., 1941-12-03
Home
Rather Than
Children
Mothers Guidance
Aids Youngsters
Immeasurably
By Leffice Lee Street,

The mother of small children who
has no maid and must do all OF
the cooking. cleaning and other
household duties herself no doubt
often sighs with envy when she
thinks of women with cooks and
nurses to help them.
Her job is hard and serious one,
and Furthermore. it Is one OF the
most responsible positions that life
can offer. Over the length and
breadth of the land there are mil
lions of such busy women in whose
kind and efficient management lies
the happiness and welfare OF the
men. women and children who are
in their care.
When woman has we'll
balanced point Of view about her
home and does not let one part OF
it suffer for another she is doing
her job with fairness. There are
three important factors. husband,
children and house-and each one
must be given sufficient thought IN
order to make a happy home.
The mother without a maid may
be comforted to know that if she
uses sympathy with her youngsters
that they benefit a great deal from
her companionship. They have a
greater chance of growing up to
be unselfish, intelligent, self-rellant
adults than have the same proper
ton of children who are found in
the minority of homes where the
parents delegate their upbringing
to another Children who are in
trusted to the care of nurses and
governesses for the major part OF
the time are likely to lead lives
that are too sheltered and PAM
pered. they are very liable to be
overprotected from the difficulties
and deprivations that build strong
character. A proper amount OF
healthy neglect is good for child!
The young child's intelligence is
expanding rapidly, its growth needs
constant guidance from a .sympa-
thetic mind that is aware OF the
child's need for correction and for
answers to his questions. Mothers
seem to fulfill the child's require
ments along this line better than
any one else.
The little child whose earliest
recollections include the start OF
the day with mother helping him
dress. after which he trotted behind
her into the kitchen, where he
watched her prepare breakfast, can
not remember when he did not have
a real part in the busy and cheer
full chores of his home.
Small children love to feel i'm
portant by being asked to perform
any duty that seems groWnup in
their eyes. Perhaps it is just put
ting the napkins on the table, or
telling daddy that breakfast is ready,
or putting away daddy's slippers,
but these small acts of serving
another. lay the foundation for
future cooperation and discourage
the lazy attitude that "the world
owes me a living"
The mother who is the unhelped
mistress of her household may de-
eide upon one of two courses
Cd a house that shines and takes
all of her time so that her children
are neglected, or 90 a house that
is not quite so shiny because she
must slow down her work to take
the time to give her children COM
panionship.
The delay and trouble required to
allow children to help such as
patting dough into small cakes OF
their very own while mother bakes
big cake, or squeezing the orange
juice, even if bit of it is spilled
or any of the other tasks that little
helpers may perform somewhat
clumsily and slowly, is we'll wortf
it when we see the pleased smile
on young faces, hear their Cheerful
chatter and know that we are no
shutting them out, but are helpinl
/ them develop into resourceful peo
pie while they absorb the realiza
; ton that it is necessary to worl
| in and for our homes.