The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-08-06
GLIM P S E S
T HI E P A S T.
By CAROLYN LLOYD

Baby, you are as stubborn as
a mule" l said to my four year
old niece. ''That is NOT the way
moods be-" was her very posi-
tive answer. How was ] to argue
with her-after all, l have never
tried to make mule eat his
breakfast Perhaps the express
sion should be, Mule, you are
as stubborn as a little girl"
Having spent the past two
weeks in Durham with my sister,
have learned a great deal about
two of the perpetual motion
machines called children and
have formed a deep respect for
mothers of the same. Now I
think I know exactly where
Stevenson got his inspiration for
DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde. 1t is
amazing how quickly two little
angels can be transformed into
two little demons doing battle
over cracker, a piece of bubble
gum, or just nothing at all. At
that, guess it makes as much
sense as some of the things
grown-ups quarrel over and chill
dren's battles are over much
sooner.
While sitting on the porch one
afternoon with my sister, one of
her friends, and five children of
assorted ages, / remarked that l
was stuck for column material
Both mothers suggested that !
should write about the difference
IN children today and those of
our generations. Ordinarily that
IS a subject that l would avoid
as l would the plague, since I
know that there is nothing as
annoying to mothers as a child
less person sounding off on child
behavior. Furthermore, l don't
remember how l behaved at the
age of four or seven, and there
might be a few people around
who do. The following conclu-
sions, therefore, are not my own,
but those of the gals who ought
to know: today's child stands in
awe of nothing and takes it as
his inalienable right to dominate
the conversation, the best chair
and everybody in the household.
In generations past, a child,
while no doubt wishing to do the
same, accepted the fact that
adults had certain privileges and
conformed outwardly, at least.
There was time when a nickel
ice cream cone was a treat that
didn't come every day; today if
a child doesn't have a double
decker cone, a pepsi or two,
and a few other delicacies during
the day, he feels sadly mistreat-
ed. Toys used to be something
ordered from Sears and Roebuck
at Christmas and for birthdays;
now a child expects something
every time he spots dime store
and parents have a hard time
finding something that seems
special.
In fairness to the children, the
other side of the picture should
be presented. Today's child is so
much better informed on a
variety of subjects than his par
ents were before him that there
is no comparison. The world of
science and nature is clearer to
him than to many adults. He
accepts as natural things his
father was snickering about be-
hind the fence with the other
boys. He may have less respect
for his elders in general, but at
seven his teacher is still "the
best teacher in the world and
can do no wrong. And like all
children in ages past, he is at
most times a joy and a never
ending source of wonder.
This is big subject and some
thing tells me that I had best
drop the whole thing and stick
to something / am more of an
authority on. One last comment
from the mothers on the porch,
doctors should prescribe the Wit
amin tablets for parents, aunts,
and baby-sitters and leave the
sleeping pills for the children.