Training for Practical Life
267
should ever retain her dignity
Some mothers are at fault in releasing their daughters from toil and
care. By so doing they encourage them in indolence. The excuse these
mothers sometimes plead is, “My daughters are not strong.” But they
take the sure course to make them weak and inefficient. Well-directed
labor is just what they require to make them strong, vigorous, cheerful,
happy, and courageous to meet the various trials with which this life is
beset
Assign Useful Tasks to Children—The carelessness of parents
in neglecting to furnish employment to their children has resulted in
untold evil, imperiling the lives of many youth and sadly crippling
their usefulness.
God desires both parents and teachers to train children in the
practical duties of everyday life. Encourage industry. Girls—and
even boys who do not have outdoor work—should learn how to help
the mother. From childhood, boys and girls should be taught to bear
heavier and still heavier burdens, intelligently helping in the work of
the family firm. Mothers, patiently show your children how to use
their hands. Let them understand that their hands are to be used as
skillfully as are yours in the household work
Each child in the family should have a part of the home burden to
bear and should be taught to perform his task faithfully and cheerfully.
If the work is portioned out in this way, and the children grow up accus-
tomed to bearing suitable responsibilities, no member of the household
will be overburdened, and everything will move off pleasantly and
smoothly in the home. A proper economy will be maintained, for
each one will be acquainted with, and interested in, the details of the
home
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Cooking and Sewing, Basic Lessons—Mothers should take their
daughters with them into the kitchen and give them a thorough educa-
tion in the cooking department. They should also instruct them in the
art of substantial sewing. They should teach them how to cut garments
economically and put them together neatly. Some mothers, rather than
to take this trouble to patiently instruct their inexperienced daughters,
15
Pacific Health Journal, June, 1890
.
16
The Signs of the Times, August 19, 1875
.
17
The Review and Herald, September 8, 1904
.
18
The Signs of the Times, August 23, 1877
.