Milford chronicle., 1941-06-20
HOMIE EDUGATI0M M
"Ths Child,s First School is The
Famiiy"-FRoEBFL
Issued BY the National Kindergarten
Association, 8 West 40th Street,
New York City
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LIE
Frances Dunlap Heron

Frances Dunlap Heron
ITS happened! > Edna Preston
sighed, as she sank into a chain II
Althea Gibbons kitchen.
What's happened?" Althea ask
ed in surprise.
Junior just told his first lie! HI
came in with that pink-fioweret
sunsuit in shreds. Said he caugh
it on a nail. But it wasn't torn
it was cut up with scissors!"
Isn't that the sunsuit you made
him out of goods left from your
dress?"
yes, he hasn't liked it very we'll
but -"
Edna, I've heard the children
teasing him about it-calling him
'Mama's baby'-and l guess he
couldn't stand it any longer"
"But didn't think Junior would
ever tell me an untruth! I won't
be able to depend ON him any
more!"
Don't say that! Talk It over
with him quietly. Show him that
there is right and a wrong way to
meet difficulty. Tell him cutting
up the suit was the wrong way.
That brought new trouble. The
way he tried to get out of that was
a very serious mistake indeed. De-
stroying the suit was not nearly so
unfortunate as allowing confidence
in his word to be placed in danger
OF being destroyed. But don't fail
to leave with him the assurance
that you still trust him, that you
believe he will not make that mis-
take again. Then let the matter
drop"
"And not make him wear any
more pink suits?"
81 wouldn't. Adults often don't
realize how sensitive children are
about teasing. Many can't stand
being laughed at SO frequently they
tell storiess stead and do other
unethical things to avoid it. Most
youngsters can naturally take it,
1 couldn't, and was not taught
how. That's why my sympathies
are with Junior now. l remember
one incident that made me unhappy
for years and-well, it's been hard
work to forgive my parents. Want
to hear it?"
Edna nodded.
when l was about eight, the
young folks in our little country
church met one evening to practice
a Christmas program. Lucille Far
mer's father was to come after her
and me in his wagon. l lived less
than a quarter of a mile off the road |
on which they lived, SO Mother told |
me that unless Mr.. Farmer insisted
ON bringing me all the way home,
was to get out at the crossroads |
and. walk. II was quite. safe.
'On our way home one of the
boys, Tommy Garrett, about four
teen, rode his horse at the side of
the wagon. At the crossroads, Mr..
Farmer asked Tommy to take me
the rest of the way. Reluctantly,
up behind Tommy on the
horse. When / entered the house,
Mother asked how got home from
the corner and l said. / walked
was extremely shy regarding boys,
and l couldn't bear to be joked
about them. And since Mother was
a great tease, l was sure that If
she knew about my riding with ;
Tommy, she would laugh and jest ,
about it. |
II paid dearly. A few days later
Mr.. Farmer said something to Dad {
about Tommy's bringing me home. j
Of course, he and Mother were fill
I'd with righteous indignation 6
against me. l tried to explain why I
had told that untruth, but my {
'eason, of course, was no justitica-
ion. To them, lie was lie, and i
had sinned. 1
at was many a long day before
ny parents would trust my word.
You. know how she deceived us f
bout Tommy Garrett they would v
ay until l thought should die of
hame. Once, in a very important T
amily affair, they took the word of G
n old servant whom they knew
ad become increasingly fOrgetful, a
instead of mine, though l had told h
he truth. In fact, the story about |;
'ommy is the only real lie recall
slling during my whole child s.
ood." h
your family's attitude was G
nough. to have made you an ha-
itual liar!" exclaimed Edna. IL
Parents today have the OppOr- A
unity to be better informed and to is
nderstand their youngsters. l v,
ish l could tell all of them to trust
leir children!" F
You've helped one mother learn te
bout pink sunsuits anyway" Ed
4 assured Althea as she started al
/. ~.