DUTY OF PARENTS

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1735, 1 June 1936, Page 5

DUTY OF PARENTS

•• _ • * t .rrZ VU./-' * . ASSISTING THEIR CHILDREN ' We all want our children to be .happy, but do we really help them to . become happy men and wom6n (asks an English magazine) ? Wv--To bring a life into the, world, is Ja : greater responsibility than I'imany , of us realise. So many parents seem to think that their responsibilities end if they provide food, clothing,* and a home. This is by no means . . If we have the joy of having children, it is undoubtedly our job to do our utmost to help them to grow: into happy men and women, and to adjust themselves to their Surroundings. We can best do this'by helping them to realise their good qualifications And gifts, and to know their limitations.' They must bring out the former and control the latter. , For instance, a nervous and sensitive.child needs to .be given real encouragement in all things it shows any signs of doing we 11...., - On leaving school, children of highly-strung nature should not be pushed into a terihis club without having a few lessons first. If they are, they immediately become nervous, knowing they do not play very well. In this way our children start to develop that unfortunate inferiority complex. - - • • Of course, we must be able to discriminate, and in no way encourage conceit. Many of us probably realise that, in some ways, we ourselves were not helped in our childhood to adjust ourselves to the world. If we, as parents, don’t determine to do better by our children, we simply continue a vicious circle. So much unhappiness and many evils could be avoided if we would do all in our power to help our children to understand and achieve happiness.. • We must help them to self-control and good manners which, after all, is ■ only consideration for others—toler- • ance and an understanding that ■ everyone is different and entitled to their opinions.