The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-11-18
A COMMON PROBLEM
by HILDA RICHMOND


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"Carol Smith, if you don't behave
you will have to 90 upstairs" eX
claimed the childs mother. You have
never acted like this before; ] cant
understand why you do now" Mrs
Smith turned to her mother, who sa,
silently listening "H0neStly, Mother
am ashamed of the way my child j.
behaving" Real concern was i'm hen
voice
The older woman looked toward the
child. carol, dear" she said, don't
ride in her buggy? The sun is so nice
and warm. If You will keep her out
until | finish these buttonhoes, | will
cone and walk with you
"Oh goody, Grandma. Come on, Ann
lets 90 ride" and Carol caught up hel
doll from Il chair and put it in the
buggy. "rhe baby wants to ride, does
MT she?' The four-year-old child was
now the solicitous mother.
After she had left the room, hen
mother said anXiously, What is the
matter with Carol? She has never be-
fore in all her life talked so loudly and
been so impudent."
| Don't worry, dear. Carol is all
right, but she is as bewildered as you
are. a condition has come into her
young life that she has never met be
fore. Perhaps, | should feel badly
about 1t, or guilty rather, for am the
cause, you see
You, Mother? How can that be?"
| carol is being forced to share your
interest and attention, for the first
time. Until now practically every one
of her waking moments she has pos
SeSSed you. You have usually been on
hand ready to crafty her every whim
She has been the center of your whole
individual world. When her father is
at home she is the attraction for both
of yOu. Now, she is sharing with me
AS it has been SO long since YOU and
have seen each other, we have much
to talk about. | thought of this befor,
| came and wondered what her re-
action would be. 1t was all right yes,
terday when | first came because she
too, was Interested, but we have talked
on so many sub bjectS that are unknown
to her that she has become tired of il
and is trying to focus our thoughts on
herself, again. Last evening, she shock
ed you by trying To SHOW off She only
did IT To gain attentiOn-and applause
That failed. Today she is trying an
other method: that Of shouting and
talking back to you"
But, Mother, You are To visit ,IS for
some time | can't let this go on. Ii
Will become habit What shall | doY
"Fir>t-don't worry. This little rpi-
sode will be II benefit to both YOU and
Carol. She is completely self-centered
that is often the case with an only
child. TO her YOU are here for her
benefit only. Such Il condition usually
comes about unawareS, especially if the
child has had much illness as was the
case, during CarorS first two years
now"
"leS, her health is practically per
feet but YOU haven't told me what to
do about this queer mental Quirk-this
s"liishness, 10 name ii correctly"
THE remedy Is easy to administer
believe, but it will take time, pntienc,
and persistence. When she addresses
either one of us, we will pay attention
insisting that she does not interrupt ol
shout. Then, at times we will talli
about something with which she j.
familiar, and draw her into the con
versation, 50 she will not feel that she
Is being pushed aside. But she must
understand that part of the time, be
longs to us and at that time she is t,
amuSe herself. Too often children are
put off with, Don't bother, me now
Go and play; You ask too many
questions or some equally preoccllpie,
remark, thus causing the eager youns
person to feel not wanted, or in tn,
way-Such II dreadful sensation. 'Th,
small victim Is hurt and bewildercI
and doesn't know how to handle tn,
situation. II seems unfair, as ii really
is SO the child retaliates by trying [,
hurt in turn. Carol did this by shout
ing and talking back So you see sh,
really is not to blame. The fault, an,
its cure are ours