Helpful Hints for Busy Mothers
By Grace V. Brown
Every mother who gives to her children's lives even a less degree of attention than the average mother loves to bestow, can not fail to be impressed with the fact that imitation is one of the strongest traits of childhood. Whatever attractive thing papa or mama, brother or sister, may do is closely watched, and, when the opportunity presents, surreptitiously imitated—oftimes to the dismay of mama, who has to repair the damage which is pretty sure to result from unaided but well-meant efforts. For instance, my little daughter, three years old, watched me sweeping a floor with salt scattered over the carpet, and although she begged to “help mama,” I told her to run away and not bother me. A short time after, having occasion to go into the parlor, I found my little girl, whose offers to help had been so unkindly repulsed, engaged in brushing the Brussels carpet with a hearth brush, after having scattered ashes from the hearth thickly about. Several hours spent in repairing the damage thus wrought gave me ample time to reflect that, had I furnished my little, eager, would-be assistant with a small broom and let her do one corner for me, I should have kept her busy and contented, besides saving myself no small amount of time and worry. Not only this, but she would have been learning the rudiments of housekeeping by the exercise of her own faculties—the only true way in which a child may learn. This incident brought home to me forcibly a lesson every mother should learn; and thereafter I sought to so plan my work that the little ones would be able to “help mama” to their hearts' content. How often I have heard a tired mother say wearily, as one did a few nights ago, “Well, I can't see that I have accomplished anything to-day. I tried to sew, but the baby wouldn't let me; she bothered me so I spoiled all my cooking, and I couldn't even sweep, for her.” Now, that same “baby” was three and a half years old, and if properly directed might have taken such an active interest not only in the sewing, but in the cooking, and the sweeping also, that the work would have been well done, and ample time left for resting both mother and child. The trouble lay in the lack of judgment on the part of the mother. When ready to begin the sewing, she had given the child a book with pictures that aroused no interest because so often seen before, and said, “Now you must be quiet for mama wants to sew.” She did not know that12keeping quiet was next to impossible for the child who wanted to “sew too.” Being refused the one desired thing, she next asked for a story, and after repeated refusals began to fret and cry, with the result that the mother angrily exclaimed that she never could sew with a child bothering her, and gave up in despair to leave the work until evening, when, tired in mind and body, the task would seem doubly hard. Had this child been given some bright-colored scraps of cloth, a pair of blunt scissors, and a threaded needle, with thread securely tied, and told she might make something for her dolly while mama made her dress, I am sure, from experience, that the afternoon would have been profitably spent by both mother and child. And who can know the thoughts of a child and measure the influence upon the growing mind, when the little one, weary at night, settles down to the sweet sleep of childhood feeling that she has done something for mama during the day now ended? Wise men tell us that in the whole domain of human endeavor there is nothing so restful, so satisfying, so conducive to perfect contentment, as profitable employment. It is but reasonable to assume that in the early years of life, this same law holds sway, though, of course, to the young child the idea of profit, as we understand it, can not come. It satisfies the child to be doing something which seems to tend to a result, a completed work. It is extremely doubtful if any intelligent child would be satisfied to work at what seemed to be useless; for example, carrying a number of building blocks from one side of the room to the other, then back and forth. After the first repetition it is more than likely that there would be a “strike.” A wise mother will remember this principle, and so plan the occupations of her children that, whether in work or play, there will always be an object in view—an end toward which the several acts constantly tend. Such early training has a far-reaching influence for good upon the development of the child. Many mothers find it difficult to entertain their little ones, and at the same time be faithful to the daily round of household duties. The secret is not to entertain the children—except occasionally by a story or other childish amusement—but to teach them to entertain themselves by the exercise of their own hands and brains.—Grace V. Brown, in American Motherhood.