QUESTION AND ANSWER by S. M. I. H.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 27, 1900

QUESTION AND ANSWER.

By S. M. I. H.

I HAVE a little boy two years and eight months old. He seldom asks me to hold him at home; but when I take him and the baby to church, he will cry and cry for me to hold him. I can not hold him and baby too, and his papa does not come. I can stop his crying only by whipping him. I have whipped him twice. Which is the best way to do,—leave the meeting and take him home, or let him cry and disturb the meeting, or take him beyond the hearing of the people, and make him stop his noise. Some say, Whip him; and others say, Don't whip him. What shall I do?

It is exceedingly difficult for one so far away, who knows nothing about you nor your children, to tell you just what is the best course for you to pursue with your crying boy. There are a few general principles, however, which apply in every case; and if you will earnestly seek for help to apply these principles, you will be able to solve the trouble. You can never break your child of crying as long as you pay any attention to it. Even whipping him will not stop him. Almost any child would rather be whipped than to be left without being noticed. He would not continue to cry if he got nothing for it; but it will take time to break him of the habit. Of course it would not be right to allow him to disturb the congregation; but to take him out and whip him will never accomplish what you wish. It would be better to keep the boy at home until he is older, even if you must stay with him; but if you can leave him with his father or any responsible person, take your baby and go to church.

S. M. I. H.