Training My Boys by Jane Calhoun

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 15, 1915

Training My Boys

By Jane Calhoun

NEITHER of the other boys had such fights with their tempers as was waged by the youngest. At first I punished him severely when he gave way to fits of rage, but I soon learned that this did no good. Unlike Richard, who was heartbroken at the stroke of a whip, because of the pain it gave him to be thus punished by one whom he adored as he did his mother, Jimmie hardened under physical chastisement. After I was persuaded of this, I changed my tactics completely.

In his calm moments I talked with him of his fault, pointed out to him to what terrible results it might lead, and encouraged him to fight his temper as he would a present and active enemy. When one of his fits of rage came upon him, I quietly went out of the room, shut the door, and left him to battle it out by himself. All improvement I commended warmly, and after a failure I tried to build up for success next time. By the time he was ten years old, his passionate outbreaks were practically things of the past, but they had taught him that his temper was something to be constantly watched and guarded, and that he could allow it no liberties.—Jane Calhoun, in Harper's Bazar.