Evening star., 1961-11-24
STOP KILLING
YOURSELF
By PETER J. STEINcRoHN

How 10 Drlng up a cnlIo?
I suppose that has been a
problem for millions of years
since monkeys first came
down out the branches and
man first had the courage to
cope with life on the ground.
However, until compare
lively recent times, parents
played it by ear. Guided only
by their instincts and love,
they somehow brought their
children through the teens
until young male and female
adults. The results? They
couldn't have been all bad.
otherwise the world as we
know it row would not have
survived.
DURING THE PAST few
decades a complication has
arisen. Parents have become
too conscious of parent-child
relationships. A consequent
strain in relations has re-
suited. Children act unnatu-
raj because their parents do.
One parent believes in let
ting the kids grow up natu-
rally. Don't force them.
Leave them alone. Let them
grow at their own pace"
(This cuts out overprotection,
underprotection and pressur-
izing the child at home and at
SCHOOL,
But the other parent dis
agrees. Protect" she says
but she overprotectS. Get
better marks" she says, and
the child who hasn't the abil-
ity to excel, or even keep up
with the average student,
soon lives a tension-filled ex-
istence.
People ask me where do I
stand? 1 wish 1 really knew.
Like all parents, I probably
play it one way today and an
other tomorrow. But 1 think
l know which is better. Chill
dren develop at different
PAGES. Therefore, don't COM
pare your child with your
neighbor's. Let him grow slow
or fast-but let it be at his
own natural pace. In this in
stance, you can't go wrong if
you hand over the reins to
nature.
+
Dear Dr.. Steincrohn: I am
concerned about a member
Of my family-married, and
with a nice family, who lives
out West. About two years or
so ago he started drinking.
Now he can't hold a job;
either he quits work or is let
out. He refuses to go to a
doctor or even try the AA for
help. Does this sound like a
hopeless situation?-Mrs. B.
THE FIRST essential in re-
covery from chronic alcohol
ism is the desire of the
patient to seek help. If, in
some way or another, you
can't find some way to mott
vate him to really want to
stop drinking, I'm afraid that
it will become a hopeless sit
uation. However. in the be-
ginning this is a roadblock
that many families face; so
Id keep on trying until he
begins to try.
&&&
Dear DIR. Steincrohn: I re-
,cently read your column
when Should An Epileptic
Drive" This article was very
, interesting as I am an
,epileptic. But here's my prob
lem. I recently purchased a
new car because I hadn't
been having any attacks for
at least two years. But within
a week after I bought it I had
three attacks. What shall I
do?-Mr. x.
THE TEMPTATION must
be great. Who can resist get
ting behind the wheel of a
new car?
You show good judgment
in asking. The answer is bet
ter see your doctor before
you drive again. Otherwise
you become a potential dan
ger to yourself and to others.
He will probably keep you
off the road for quite a few
months after having you on a
course of dilantin and pheno-
barbital-or whatever drugs
he finds are indicated. When
your condition is under con-
troll, you can look forward to
driving again.
"a Bell Syndicate Feature)
Monday: Lupus.