Evening star., 1942-03-06
With
TealousChild
Needs Tact
EndeaVOr to Make
Him Feel Certain
Responsibility
By Lettice Lee Street,


II don't like boys" announced
six-year- -old Tommy fatty, L hate
EN-" Fathers newspaper cracked
angrily to the floor, mother stared
at her small son round eyed over
her sewing and the older sister
stifed a giggle. Upstairs the baby
of the family, a seven-months-old
boy. slept soundly.
Mother collected her wits and her
sewing and pretended that she had
not heard, but father ducked his
chin and delivered hair -on-your-
chest lecture about he-men, athletes,
good sports, soldiers and a mans
world. Tommy responded by looking
glum and unimpressed.
This little scene would not have
mattered had Tommy just made a
single impulsive remark, but the
trouble was that Tommy honestly
and truly did hate boys.
His loathing became glaringly ap-
parent to his teacher at school,
where. like most first graders, his
class consisted of both boys and girls.
He ignored the boys, pestered the
girls and thus he was utterly mlser-
able. His teacher, much concerned,
reported all this to mother.
Finally, after much to-do ana
excitement about the situation,
Tommy's mother visited a child
guidance clinic in her city and there
She learned why Tommy was oenaV-
ing in such an unsocial manner.
It was all the fault Of the innocent
nink-cheeked child snoozing on his
tummy upstairs. Tommy's turned
up freckled nose was out OF JOINT,
he was jealous!
Until the Baby King arrived Tom.
my had been the precious DARING OF
the household. His sister, fve years
his senior, had adored him ana
fused over him with all the warmly
oyer-fiowing maternal love that little
GIRLS sometimes show for babies. NOW
She was giving the new baby all this
affection. Tommy had been bounced
on a proud fathers knee and cocoa
over by radiant mother, every one
was so happy to have him there.
Now everything was different, that
baby upstairs, a male, had taken
away Tommy's priced place IN HE
OH how Tommy hated males!
The psychiatrist's advice was easy
for Tommy's mother to follow, ano
she did so with good results. 1t was
so sinple that many a mother might
do well to prick her ears and heed
II lest one of her own dearly loVeo
children be hurt as Tommy was, by
the arrival of the new baby.
The doctor told Tommy's mother
that she should show her little boy
that she needs him and trusts MIN
She should demonstrate her love te
him in many small ways. Gradually
he advised. she should endeavor tc
give him a share of responsibility
for his baby brother and make him
feel that this is our baby, acting as
though the baby needs Tommy. TOO
who is stronger and bigger than nj
is, to help protect him.
All that troubled Tommy was tha'
his ego was injured, he felt that he
as the boy in the family had beer
replaced by more highly valued
bow Thus to Tommy, a boy meant
some one who had taken from hin
that which he cherishes most dearly
the attention and affection OF nj
family.
The doctor then went on to poin
out that unknowingly Tommy!
mother had paved the way for thl'
grief by treating her Oldest boy a.
a wonder-child when he was bah!
and a toddler, thus leading him t.
believe that all his life long he coult
expect such alteration.