The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-06-11

Is good time for mothers 10 ask
themselves frankly: Can / be con-
sidered an ideal wife and mother?"
There's a question for you! / haz-
ard the guess that the answer is no,
although everyone's conception OF
ideal is, fortunately, different,
What's one mans ideal is not. as
we all know, another's. What's
more, a womau's idea of an ideal
wife may be quite different from
her husbands idea of same. AS far
as that goes, any old day is as good
a day as Fathers Day to try to an
Swer the poser.
Not the Ratchet Man
Suggestion No. 2 is:
Children will always inStinctively
fear and Cringe before the Specter
of father as the man with the
stick" Often, it is the fault of
mothers who threaten naughty
children with severe punishment
when father comes home. Better to
inspire respect, than fear. for fam
lily harmony.
A very wise idea this, but fathers
have beaten me TO it, most Of them
having officially given notice that
they are having none of the role
that apprOXimateS that of Lord
High EXecutioner. If there is any
spanking or housekeeping or an
other form of punishment to be adj
ministered, mother, who is respon-
sible for the children's behavior, is
going to do it.
The modern child is not brought
up to fear father or policemen. The
modern mother feels competent to
deal with her brood and in most
families she administers whatever
justice seems necessary.
Suggestion No. 3 goes like this:
Is the modern independent and
worldly wife indirectly responsible
for her husbands dissatisfaction
resulting in the situation known as
the Dangerous FortieS"? Father
feels SubconsciouSly that children
and wife have outgrown their need
for him, and he turns to outside in
tereStS and praise.
All fathers have their of days.
when the dark suspicion enters
their mind that they are unimpor-
tant TO the family scheme in any
other role than a proVider. Modern
fathers accept, rather than battle
with, this mental state, being wise
enough to know that it is only a
mood. Mothers have such days, too.
days when they feel that they are
only necessary to cook and mend
and wipe noses and do up, or kiss,
cut fingers, but they are sensible
enough to know that it's just one Of
their off days and not to be taken
seriously. And, II you ask me,
worldly wives are not more respon-
Sible than clinging vines for faith
er's didoes during the Dangerous
FortieS.
Reveal His Faults
To begin with, fathers do not al
ways run high temperatures at this
point and those who do probably
would anyway, no matter what sort
Of wives they had. Anyhow, this Is
no subject to bring up on Fathers
Day, which is supposed to be a day
of love and laughter, with a neck
tie or some little souvenir by way
of showing that all is forgiven.
One other suggestion, and a
grand one: Frank criticism by the
children of how father falls down
on his job, and so on.
If children run true to form,
father is sure to hear few reveal
ing truths about his performance.
1t would probably do him a world
of good, but don't forget mother
has already voiced, consciously or
unconsciously, the childrens criti-
cism of him.
On reflection, none Of these peril
nent family problems seems lust
the sort to burden father with at
this time. He has lot on his mind.
supporting in some capacity-and
l use the word adyisedly-his home
and country. l therefore suggest
that we lay Oft father, long before
June q. If we must dramatic his
role, let's make him proud Of being
privileged to play it and let's give
him bouquets SpiCed with love and