St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-08-15
by hazel
underwood

The conversation turned TO chill
dren their parents and their OBJ
legations 10 each other. During
a heated discussion had noticed
one young girl had said nothing.
One Of the group finally asked her
opinion. She said simply Il do not
know what you mean by obliga-
tion. love my parents and as long
as / live I will love them. I feel
no obligation to them but what
ever / can ever do for them will
gladly and willingly do because l
love them and I feel can NEVER
repay them for all the years Of
worry and sacrifice they have
given me. I thank them every
day for what they have done for
me, but most Of all / THANK
them for every time they have
punished me trying to teach me 10
know how TO behave myself.
know / am far from perfect but
thank them for teaching me and
making me what / am today.
You, Harold, say you resent
the whippings you got as a child.
/ say thank my parents for
every one l got and wish they
had given me more so would be
a better girl In every way. When
was young l was funny" about
eating My parents, my mother, es-
pecially, since she did the cooking,
would let me see how she prepared
the food and tell me all OF the
love and work she put into cooking
so we would all grow up healthy
and strong. I would try the food
/ didn't like and eat II II / could,
but there was no pressure put on
me and in time / have learned to
eat most Of the food thought
didn't like as a child.
My youngest sister used to cry
and fall on the floor and kick and
scream II things didn't go to suit
her My mother took what she
called keen" little switch from
a peach tree and when she caught
my sister falling on the floor she
switched her little legs several
times and before too many months
my sister found It didn't pay TO do
that-so she stopped. I have heard
my sister tell how happy she is
that she does not go into a tan
trum every time things don't go
to suit her. She says she thanks
mother for those whippings be-
cause you and know a grown
woman, a grandmother, who really
is unbearable IL things don't go to
suit her"
IF she Is on a committee and
suggests something she flies" up
in the air II all Of the others don't
Jump and do as she suggests. She
will go so far as to actually get
off the committee II the others
dare disagree with her"
Then you also know women AND
men who viii work as long as they
are the head Of a group, but don't
expect them 70 work under any
one, II they can't rule the group
they will do all in their power
to ruin what ever project is under
way.
Children seem to be born mean.
II you will watch a tiny baby II
will frown when II doesn't want to
do as you want II to and when II
can't have it's way Il win stiffen
and stretch out and try its best
to get away from you. II that fails
II will scream It's head off and
sound as though II Is being mis-
treated. but just as soon as you
relax your hold on Il and II finds
you no longer are trying to teach
Il TO obey you to keep Il from
falling to the floor Il relaxes, looks
at you with a heavenly smile and
you forget 10 punish it or you
won't punish II.
II is too young you say. Il
doesn't know what It Is doing.
Don't fool yourself, II knows Just
what Il is doing because as soon
as YOU relax your hold on il,
Il ftnds no fun in kicking and
squtming out Of your arms. II
relaNcs and starts TO hum or il