The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-10-29

mothers disposition is not always
the best. Her frayed nerves, which
are caused by loneliness. worry and
unaccustomed responsibilities make
her iumpy and iittery. which state
OF mind reacts unfavOrably on the
child. Children are extremely sem
Sitive. II is too bad 10 have them
subjected TO outbursts OF III temper
caused by nerves or by any other
disturbing condition.
Most mothers feel that il is not
only a pleasure but duty TO give
the absentee father a great big
build-up. They naturally want
father to be a hero In the eyes OF
his offspring. so they are not above
glamoriZing the role he is playing
or, II not actually glamorizing II, at
least giving IL all its worth. Natu-
rally. an imaginative child makes
UP his own picture. with words and
music OF the part his father Is
playing IN the war. probably visual
ling him riding around on a snow
white Arab stced or rushing about
in a big and powerful car or in
bomber. or boat, according 10 the
branch OF the service in which he
is serving.
Glories in Fathers Exploits
Naturally. Junior Rlories in his
fathers exploits and doesn't bother
too much about the dangers he
meets because. in the mind Of any
normal boy his father can lick any
one twice his size. and that means
Germans and Japs too It's ire
mendous comfort 10 woman TO
have his child 10 talk with and play
with, and a great JOY. too. for her
TO plan for him but it's also
grave responsibility. A child needs
the masculine viewpoint. and wo-
men find it difficult 70 get that
angle on a situation that touches
them personally. Plenty Of women
think like men about imperSonal
matters, but when IL comes TO their
own heart interests, their own men
folk and children, well. they are
100 per cent feminine in their out
look and reactions.
Little girls seem TO develop the
capacity for worry at an early age.
They are more disturbed over the
war because they do not thrill TO
the excitement and adventure as
does the small boy, and big one.
too, for that matter. Mothers have
found u unwise to take their small
daughters 10 war films which as a
rule. are meat and drink TO junior.
Little Girls Worry
"She worries so about the war
and the dangers her father is ex-
posed 10" mother told me. Now.
Junior doesn't seem to get that
angle on 1t at all. In fact, when his
fathers letters do not hint at action
of course. he can't say much-he
is definitely let down. With the little
girl it's Just the opposite. She Is
overjoyed when she hears that
Daddy is. or was at the time OF
writing. safe and away from dan
ger"
When the war is won and fathers
are back home and ready to resume
their share of the family respon-
sibility 1t may take some time for
them TO rehabllltate themselves.
The young child is accustomed 10 a
woman rule. and both father
and the children may have some
difficulty in adjusting themselves
TO their unaccustomed relationship.
Mother is going TO need tact in
order to help in this readjustment.
She must prepare the children for
their fathers return by making 1t
quite clear that he is the head Of
their household, the final court OF
appeals in any case Of insubordna-
ton. not only for the good of the
children. but for the good of the
father, who must not be made 10
feel dethroned or thrown out Of
office, but that he has both respon-
sibility and authority.