Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-03-14
By LYN CONNOLLY
(Gnest Colamnist for Miss Norris)

TOW do l know my son is
not in with the wrong
L l. boys?" an anguished
mother in Ohio cried recently
when headlines carried the dis
concerning story of an apparent
ly model lad who had led group
of teen-aged youngsters into nu-
merous robberies. "He's out
most of the time and I hope he's
keeping out of mischief, but I
can't keep my eye on him every
minute"
Indeed not Nor should it be neces-
sary for any mother to constantly
"spy" on her children. 1t is her
duty to raise her sons and daugh-
tiers in friendly atmosphere; to
encourage them to come to her
when they seek advice and not be-
little them If their problems appear
trivial. In order to have a model
child there must first be model par
ents. If the father of the family
takes some time from his many
duties to play baseball with his son
or to repair toy, teaching the
child at the same time how to do it
himself the next time it is broken,
and if the mother takes some pre-
cious moments otherwise devoted
to her household duties to listen to
her sons account of the days
events at school, concrete founda-
ton is laid for a happy childhood,
one it will be difficult for the boy to
discount when temptation 1ears its
ugly head his way.
There is nothing more heart
warming than a household where
parents share their joys and sor-
rows with their child, initiating his
ego by allowing him to feel and
think like an adult. There is nothing
more tragic than to watch parents
skulk about the house, whispering
to each other when child is pres
ent, or speak to each other with
their eyes, movements that be-
wilder the boy and make him feel
unwanted and insignificant.
Only First Step.
Laying the foundation is only the
first step in the right direction.
When a child is ready for school it
is not sign for relaxation on the
part of the parents. Instead of be-
lieving that the worst is over, it
must be remembered that the worst
is yet to come AS the Ohio mother
noted, one cannot keep an eye on a
child all the time. He may meet a
companion at school that is not the
right kind of associate for him, but
one you may not meet until too
late because the boy lives on the
other end of town and plays with
your son after school hours on the
schoolgrounds, leaving at dark for
his own home.
Having playmates at home should
be encouraged and made further
attractive by the offer Of cookies
and milk in mid-play.. Your home
will soon become a welcome meet
ing -place, and that's all to the good,
for you can see for yourself the
type of children your boy has
chosen for his buddies.
AS children grow into their teens,
II sometimes becomes impractical
and expensive to entertain their
friends at your home. The swing
music from the monograph may
make father queasy and the Utter
bugging in the front room may
cause unfavorable comments from
the landlord or neighbors. Yet to
take dancing and music away from
the bobby-soxers is like taking
lollipop from a baby. 1t isn't fair.
There may be no decent place in
your town at which the younger set
can congregate, or even if there is,
it may be too expensive for most of
the boys to take their girl friends.
Thus, the need for money is brought
home and therein lies an ominous
cloud.