Evening star., 1953-01-11
Show Respect
For Privacy
And Property
By Kite Turmoil

BY kltte lurmell
Do you have enough room of
your own at your house? Or
do you long for a place where
you can be alone, safe from
family invasion?
II have my own bedroom, In
theory. But I might as well live
| in a ZOO. the way my family
walks In and out. Without
warning. Makes me feel Ex-
hibit A." Tom groaned, in a
''Teen Etiquette" forum for
high Schoolers.
! II share my bedroom with my
kid sister," moaned Mary. ''Is
she snoopy! I have to tear all
the really private letters UP.
after I've read them once, before
she gets to 'en. I've given up
trying to keep a diary. Hope
less!"
my mother is q great cleaner
, upper" complained JIM. "She
tears in like a cyclone, espe-
cially If she Is mad at me or
something. When she's really
mad, she takes it out on my
room, often. Doesn't tell me
ahead to straighten 1t up. Just
storms in. Whips through
closets. Changes everything
around so can't find anything.
Tosses out stuff I want that she
calls junk"
what about the careless ones
who never do keep their room
/ tidy--and prowl into your
dresser or closet to borrow
things, without permission?"
parents retort. my daughter
treats her letters like they were
messages from Mars" confides
Mrs. B. Catch is she does not
think it is out of line to look
over my mail or listen in, with
loud laughs, while I'm on the
phone"
So how can you protect family
peace. privacy and respect for
property? Any one, starting
with you, can call a family coun-
Gil at which you agree to abide
by common sense standards,
considered essential in many
families. Examples:
/. Before entering any closed
door, in a room occupied by an
other person who might want
privacy, knock and ask permis-
sion to enter.
2. Don't prowl around any
room while its occupant is out.
unless you have permission
and/o a sound reason, such as
domestic chores. Don't let the
claim that you should do Clean
up work" or hunt for some
thing" pose as an excuse for
prying into drawers, closets and
possessions.
| 8. Keep your own room, or
your section in a room you share.
! in good order. Discuss this sched-
ule with your mother. Agree on
a deadline when things should be
done such as bed-making. laun-
dry pickup. closet cleaning, etc.
Then nobody has to move in"
| to take over on work that should
be done by you. to eliminate fam
! lily need for invasion"
I. 4. Remember, always, that you
have no right to borrow" any
thing without permission. That
applies to clothing, jewelry. on
down the line to cosmetics. soap
or toothpaste that is somebody
else's property"
| 5. Show such respect for the
privacy of others on mail. phone
calls, confidential talks you are
not supposed to hear, etc.. that
all will know they owe you the
same courtesy. II your ''kid"
brother won't cooperate. don't
feud or punish" by taking some-
thing he treasures. Ask your
parents to help you to enforce
rules that seem fair to all.
6. Enjoy the chance to be
alone, some of the time, in a
room of your own. It's natural
to want to be by yourself every
once in awhile. But don't hide
out behind a closed door so often
that others wonder whether you
are moping, weeping, i'll or anti
social. Why be the she hermit
who goes to such extremes to
safeguard personal property that
you miss the fun you can find
with the family?
If you must share a room with
a relative or guest:
Try to be as considerate as
you want the other to be
Find ways to adjust to each
others habits.
Take turns on when you can
have the room to yourself for
dressing. study. etc.
Come to some agreement about
noise. radio. amount of heat and
fresh air. Mutual respect, that
permits rest and quiet, will make
you feel like you have "some
room of your own" anywhere.
,.pos,ss, ..:::s:;s;