THE COMPANIONABLE MOTHER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1374, 16 March 1915, Page 4

THE COMPANIONABLE MOTHER.

Are you a companionable mother ? Do your children feel that you are their comrade, their confidante ? Even though you may be busy over the mending basket or at the bread board, do you take time aud pains to give attention to them, to answer their que.itiofls, to interest yourself in their occupation aud their plans? Do they feel that no matter how much mother has to do she is always ready to listen and to sympathise—ln joy or in sorrow ? When you and the children go far a walk together, and on little outings, do you try to see things from their standpoint ? Do you seek to cultivate their powers of observation and enjoyment ? Do you enjoy with them the outing and the scenes around you, or are you so engrossed in your own thoughts, your own perplexities, that you walk along unseeing, unhearing, so that the children at last tire of such an abstracted, indifferent companion and are not especially eager to go when you propose a walk ? Or have you always displayed such an interest in your children’s questions aud plans, hopes and fears, that they know that when the world turns a deaf ear to them they may still go to mother aud find help aud sympathy ? It is not always easy, when a mother is very busy, to give time and attention to the queries, the interests of the little ones. In some occupations, of course, it is impossible ; but there are others, such as baking and sewing, and the more mecfianical forms of housework, which may be done well and yet mother may be able to converse with the childien at the same time. The mother who does not make a companion and a confidante of her child in the early days will be apt to have a bard time in later years when she realises the necessity and desirability of being its best friend. The child who does not receive confidence and attention at home will surely seek it elsewhere. So watch the early days, mother, aud the busy days, and make your children feel from the very first that of all dear comrades, companions and confidantes, mother Is the dearest and the truest.