The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-07-16
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or Inee".id.r.t.


nearly very laLguage. And yet the sun must some
times cast startled ray upon things which If not
new are at least extraordinary, such as novelty
salads modernistc furniture, or baby-sitters
Surely one of the oldest problems in the word
is the problem of what TO do with the baby when
necessity calls away its natural protectors. There
is nothing new for the sun,-or, more likely, the
moon,-to gaze upon in the quandry of parents VINO
must be briefly absent from home but dare not
leave without finding a true and worthy custodian
TO take temporary charge of the terrible twins.
But there are new phases in the setting of this
old problem, not to speak Of new and very dubious
methods of solving the problem itself AS for the
setting the home has long ceased TO be the solid
and cose-knit company of mortals that nature and
long centuries had made it. The automobile and
the seething desire for me~e motion which the
automobile has always fed and fostered have made
the home kind of mere parking center where
parents and children meet when the fell clutch of
circumstances renders it impossible for them to
be anywhere else.
As for the methods If solving the problem of
caring for the neWhatcheo. unfledged comrades
that heaven sends TO parents, the radical and very
popular solution is to avoid having babies 10 care
for This method rgidly and universally adhered
to, would bring permanent solution to the
problem Of baby-care and TO every human PROB
lem The less drastic method is to hire somebody,
or anybody to look after the little ones while papa
and mama fit away.
And this is the easiest method of dealing with
the situation. Money solves all problems. The hire
ling is ever available Indeed so facile is this so
luton Of the great modern family problem, that
mama End papa are no longer concerned about
their sternest duty but shiTk II off at will. No
longer need they wait upon compelling necessity to
drive them forth: they actually seek occasion TO
ease their itching feet they fly hither and yon with
complete irresponsibllity With enough money IN
hand To hire sitter, home ties TO bind Care
and conscience surrender happily to the power OF
cash
II is the normal and traditional attitude of ma
ture in human beings uninfected by the wild
neurastheAa OF going places and doing things, to
regard the home holy and happy shrine, There's
place like home is really more than line OF an
old song Normal people who MARI and found
home are indeed much restricted, and should be,
but their very restrictions delight them Home ties
bind not with distressing feter.. but with delight
fu bonds of love and dedication Father and mother
and, through their influence, the children too.-
stay at home not because they must but because
home Is where they want to be
II takes our own age OF enlightenment and
culture to discern the sad fact that staying at home
is dull and nhuman hardship The tired soldier
in far off land may long for the comfort and JOY
of being al home But give him week or two
after the mastering out and furnish him with a
motor car, and he's away like the birds The longing
dreams OF The loxholes forgotten; the fever
of modern living takes him IN thrall again he seeks
his pleasure in hurrying away from the home not
in STAYING happily in It.
And the bride and groom o. to-day far from
dedcating themselves TO the most satisfying life
that earth can offer them, look upon domestclty
as dull and despirting duty. They must g1 out
one evening two evenings every evening IN the
week They find their entertainment and delight
outside the four consecraed walls of home, not
within The duties of the day,-in kitchen or office
or factury-are endured for the sake of the free
footed evening TO follow. They may 90; they may
play their bridge cantasta; Il ey may sip their
champagne their beer they may air their views
and their torsos in untroubled and unhurried dali
lance for they know their children are provided
with that loving care which they need and crave,
and which comes TO one dollar an hour.
In the quaint DAYS OF grandma the children who,
perforce had rareS occasions TO be abandoned for
a brief space were placed in charge OF good old
Aunt Matilda. Or kind and trusted neghbor,
with family of her own, welcomed the youngsters
TO her household while father and mother hurried
off with all eagerness Il be hurrying back again.
II is not now as II hath been of yore. Aunt Matilda
is not summoned. The mothers neighbor is not
asked for neghborly aid Mo- the ready telephone
comes complete stranger at rate that papa
and mama may have their binge. This is the program
in many homes, or houses Monday tn ough Friday.
Now. the deepest need OF a child after the need
Of being born. is TO have the consciousness of the
love of its parents and the awarenesS of their steady
presence. A baby-sitter can pay games with chill
dren and put Il EN- to bed, and telephone for help
in Of fire burglars. But the best baby
sitter in the world cannot give children the
they need most that is the care which consists
IN the physical presence of their parents, Babies,
mp TO the age of about twenty-one. need parents
Who are the job and who stdp the job.
Parents who follow the baby sitter routine doubt
lesslg love their children, however poorly they man
ifest that love But they insanely shirk the heav-
lest and happiest OF their responsibilities The bod
lily safety Of their children thing tneir spir-
itnal and moral safety is quite another and this
is something that cannot rightly be entrusted to
unknown, and frequently immature stranger
who serves for hire.
Nothing under the sun? Just something new
under the stars bungling parents reluct-
antly back in the small hours, 10 the cares that
infest the day. DO they come home? Home is where
the heart IS