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Chapter 33—Home Influences
The home should be to the children the most attractive place in
the world, and the mother’s presence should be its greatest attraction.
Children have sensitive, loving natures. They are easily pleased and
easily made unhappy. By gentle discipline, in loving words and acts,
mothers may bind their children to their hearts.
Young children love companionship and can seldom enjoy them-
selves alone. They yearn for sympathy and tenderness. That which
they enjoy they think will please mother also, and it is natural for
them to go to her with their little joys and sorrows. The mother
should not wound their sensitive hearts by treating with indifference
matters that, though trifling to her, are of great importance to them.
Her sympathy and approval are precious. An approving glance, a
word of encouragement or commendation, will be like sunshine in
their hearts, often making the whole day happy.
Instead of sending her children from her, that she may not be
annoyed by their noise or troubled by their little wants, let the mother
plan amusement or light work to employ the active hands and minds.
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By entering into their feelings and directing their amusements
and employments, the mother will gain the confidence of her chil-
dren, and she can the more effectually correct wrong habits, or
check the manifestations of selfishness or passion. A word of cau-
tion or reproof spoken at the right time will be of great value. By
patient, watchful love, she can turn the minds of the children in the
right direction, cultivating in them beautiful and attractive traits of
character.
Mothers should guard against training their children to be de-
pendent and self-absorbed. Never lead them to think that they are
the center, and that everything must revolve around them. Some
parents give much time and attention to amusing their children, but
children should be trained to amuse themselves, to exercise their
own ingenuity and skill. Thus they will learn to be content with
very simple pleasures. They should be taught to bear bravely their
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