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YOUTH

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 20, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 42.

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YOUTH

By Mary S. Hatch

THERE is a time in the lives of most young people when it takes all a mother’s tact, love, and sympathy to hold them. It is comparatively easy to shelter the fledgling, to be interested in childish pastimes, and patient with children’s foibles, but when they begin to think of putting away childish things, and maturer ambitions begin to call to broader fields, then beware lest they begin to say to themselves, “Mother [or it may be father] doesn’t understand.”
They are active, often restlessly so, and they long for something, they hardly know what. They want companionship, amusements, and to make a show of independence. Home restraint grows irksome, even to gentle natures, and the tendency is away from it; especially is this so with a boy.
At no time in the lives of children is there more need of wisdom, and at no time such necessity for gentle firmness and tact. The thoughtful mother, looking far ahead, has prepared herself, and not only herself, but her husband.
If children have grown up under proper restriction, and have learned to respect parental authority (please read those words with their fullest meaning, as they presuppose years of conscientious parental government), if, as I say, they have learned to respect you, learned that you are never selfish nor self-willed, that your aim is their highest good and the execution of it your loving duty, then you have every reason to hope that the rest will not be hard, at any rate not hopeless.
It is natural for boys and girls to seek companionship, and to want to entertain their friends. If you accommodate yourself to the conditions, and show their friends a willing courtesy, they will feel gratified, and readily allow your leadership.
“I think it is too bad I can’t have what company I want at home,” said a young miss, and added slyly, “But never mind, I get ahead of mother when I go to spend the night with my friends.”
When the girl or boy begins to say wistfully, “I wish I could have so-and-so, like some one else,” don’t put them off with impatience or harshness; better accept it as a sign that here is your attention needed. If you can indulge a harmless wish, it may be best to do so. Put yourself in their places, remembering how important a little thing often seems to them.
Regular practise is alone excellent discipline for either sex, especially if there is inclination to laziness, shiftlessness, or anything short of thoroughness in the doing of anything. Books, papers, and pencils are so cheap. Let them be well supplied, and encourage their use in the many departments of usefulness and art.
Usually when young people see that your reasons against their wishes are good, they will give no trouble even when grievously disappointed. Should it turn out otherwise, then you can be firm, gently and sorrowfully, but positively, seeking the first opportunity to show eagerness in promoting their happiness.
Mothers, we need always to be ready for marching orders, and a hint from any source must be sufficient to keep us alert. Whatever mistakes have gone before, this now is our place; we may not see the end, and the way is often rough, but let us try to be faithful.—Mary S. Hatch, in Good Housekeeping.