Hints on Bringing Up Children

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3010, 8 November 1898, Page 7

Hints on Bringing Up Children

9 '■■■ BY A MAN WHO NEVER HAD ANY. No one knows more about children than a bachelor. Twice a week, at least, children are foißted upon him, from the infant in arms to the girl in her first loDg dresH, for inspec f ion and revipw, criticism nnd pr.^e He seea them m nil stages, auu imvi-jg none of his owd, hia opinion is unbiased — when the parents ara out of siyht. Consequently, hia advice niusc be valuable, and here i» is : Begin to train a child when an infant. Teach it at the outstart that it can bave anything it cries for. When it wants something that yoa know to be injurious be firm, and say, " Now, baby, you know you ought not to bave that. It will make baby sick. Go to sleep, mamma's precious." If baby goes to sleep, there is a victory gained ; if ifc fctays awake and keeps on yelling, let it have what it wantß. In either ca?e it will finally go to sleep. It is a mistake to suppose that a baby can do entirely without sleep, even at night. In tbe matter of food, most mothers are agreed ihat it is wiae to let the baby eat anything that it can reach. All babies are bound to have cramp?, anyhow. When the baby grows into a boy, teach him the value of neatness. If ha leaves hia toys, books, and clothing scattered round his room, tell him to tidy it up at once, and then go and do it yourself. Insist upon strict obedience. If he shows a disposition to lie in bed in the morning, order him to get out at once, and keep on ordering him until he does get up, il it takes two hoars. Be juat as firm when you want him to go to bed at night, and some day he" will thank you for it. Eatbers who use a ruler or other implement to urge the boy out of bed should be discouraged. It may break the boy's Sf irit. If the boy is inclined to mischief, tell him in a severe tone that you will whip him the next time he does it. Never lay a hand on one weaker than yourself, and in time he will grow so big that you dare not. A boy should have pocket-money from his father and all he can tease from hia mother. Always tell him firat that he shall not have any, and then give it to him. Getting money in thia manner will tend to make the boy self-reliant. The rules of the bringing up of girla in infancy are about tbe same as for boys. When they get old enough to be of tome help to their mother, set them to take music lessons. Some mothers insist upon their daughters washing dishes, sweeping, making beds, and doing other household work which soils and roughens the hands and makes them discontented. This iB to be deprecated, and can be easilyavoided by the mother doing the work herself, if she can't afford to hire a girl. At about the same time the daughter is beginning to receive beaux the Bon is going out to see girls- This is a crucial period in the children's lives and they require to be managed carefully. Do not aßk your son where he bas bien, and thus encourage lying. Trust to his early training that he will Dot disgrace you ; and if he does, do I not forget to say he waß led astray by evil companions. Also remark that " boys will be boys." If tbe daughter inclines to favor fome man you do not like, give her to understood that she shall not keep such I company with your consent, and if she persists then give your consent. Somebody has to give way in such cases, and you are more used to it than she is. Encourage her taste for dress on tbe ch-ence that she will marry a rich man, and if she makes a miecue, let the couple live with you and take the back bedroom yourself. By this time your son will have married, and when he brings his wife home with him, you can fix up a very comfortable place in the attic. If the father objects to what he calls a sacrifice, remind him that he waa once young himself, By following these few simples rnles, any woman will find herself in middle age bereft of all responsibility and care. Her son's wife and her daughter's husband will tell her how to manage the household, and her sole business will be to do the work, while her husband pays the rent and buys the provisions.