Babies Tale

The infant at birth contains a germ of all that is great and good. Education is simply the process of drawing out and developing dormant energies. The child’s teachers and governors are the parents. They cannot escape this duty if they would, and a large share devolves upon the mother.

If a mother governs entirely by sole, bare authority, by frowns un tempered with smiles; when her conduct produces in the hearts of her children only a servile fear instead of an obedient affection; when accidents raise a storm, and faults produce only a hurricane of passion in her bosom; when offenders are driven to concealment and lying in order to avert unduly severe corrections; when the mother interrupts innocent enjoyments unnecessarily; when, in short, she shows nothing of herself but the unhappy tyrant, can we then expect the child to flourish in such soil? No, unless we expect the tenderest house-plant to thrive amidst the rigors of eternal frost.

At the opposite end of the scale are the parents, particularly mothers, who delay the application of coercive measures too long. The first months and then years of a child’s life glide away quickly; the mother scarce knows when she should have begun to govern her child instead of having him govern her.

If a child has been accustomed to obey from infancy, there need be no contest for power. The yoke of obedience will generally be light and easy. Just as important is for a mother to be always on her guard and allow no encroachments on her own prerogatives.

Often discipline is abortive. It is administered at a proper time but is relaxed just short of success. No correction should be commenced that is not completed there and then. One completed piece of discipline is worth a hundred abortive efforts.

Love is the essential element of the parental character. The human mind is so constituted as to yield readily to its kindness. Men are more easily led to their duties than driven to them. ‘A child: says an Eastern proverb, ‘may lead an elephant by a single hair.’

In all their conduct, let the parents blend the lawgiver with the friend, tempet authority with kindness. Let them act so as to convince the children that their laws are holy, just and good, and that to be so governed is to be blessed.

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