LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 9, 11 July 1938, Page 4

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

EASTBOURNE PARENTS MEET

The Masonic Hall, Eastbourne, decorated with bowls of flowers and shrubs, ■was the scene of a happy gathering of fathers and mothers and friends on the occasion of the combined meeting of the local branch of the League of Mothers, which is held once a year. Mrs. Shearer was in the chair, and heartily welcomed the speaker (Mr. Brasted), Mrs. Kersley (provincial president), members from other banches, local memSbers, and many fainers; also the entertainers, Mrs. Millward,. Mr. Bryant, atsd Mr. Cheyr.e. Mrs. Millward and Mr..Bryant sang solos and, duets delightfully, their items being much appreciated, as also were Mr. Cheyne's rendering of two elocutionary items. Mr. Brasted dealt very ably with his subject, "The Boy Problem," and ■was listened to with much interest. !He said there was no "predigested" way of making a man put of a boy. The process was a struggle, including a number of stages of development. There was "Jimmy/ the muddy, dirty, collarless, don't-care boy; "James," the boy mother saw; and "Jim," the young man, solid and. well worth while—rOf manly, Christian character. "A boy," said the speaker, "will ignore rules and regulations—his spirit chafes under , restraint-r-but enmesh him in the lave of a good home and he will respontd. Often he is not understood. The mbiher in her. over-anxious-ness restrains 100 much. Father, too., does not realisle that his boy is growing up and bras decided opinions of his own. Intlolerant parents cause trouble often. The adolescent is a bundle of reactions and negations, of over-activity followed- by a period of inactivity; and of intense living. It is the most difficult time of a boy's life. . The adolescent period is a time of great changes of strange ideas; of surges within, root understood by the boy; of desires tlo do things. Physically, it is a time of rapid and uneven growth; the" boy is cjumsy, awkward, noisy, sometimes dirty, and always hungry. It) is the time of; play instinct and dired*ed athletic games is the safest outlet.- Socially it is the gang period—-the. time, of cliques;, of special whistles, : hero-worshipi, mannishness, self-constiiousness, changefulness, and falling Sb love. Intellectually, the boy begins to form his own opinions. He hasy vivid imagination, he takes new Wih&s. The power .of right suggestion is Tvery useful at this time. His will is: developing: he is often restless, bumptious, self-assertive, critical to the limit. JBe careful not to nag Him at thisl time;, release restraint, . lead him, E&nd do not drive. Spiritually, religion tts a great natural outlet. It is fatal to* separate religion from life. His higH ideals can be directed, his impulse to d° things used.' Give him r<asporisibility. It is a time of service to others.

"The main thing is to try to understand your boy. Treajb him with sympathy; praise him for Iftis efforts; never let him down; encourage him to bring his friends home. Birtd him with the love and example of a good home and the boy will no longer-be a problem."

Mr. Bowie, on behalf of the fathers* thanked and congratulated Mr. Brasted for his address, and Mir.- Shearer seconded his remarks. Mr. Kersley, on behalf of the visitors, • thanked the League of Mothers for* the splendid evening they had enjoyed. Mrs. Shearer proposettL the vote of thanks to the speaker .and the performers, which was. caittied by acclamation. • ■•«

• • Supper- concluded-an ittteresting-ami happy evening,