MY IDEA OF A GOOD MOTHER!

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3669, 2 November 1912, Page 10

MY IDEA OF A GOOD MOTHER!

(BY A PRECOCIOUS INFANT.)

I dare say most kids, if they Avere asked what Avas their idea of a good mother, Avould say, “One Avho lets me do just as I like!” But that isn’t my idea at all, because I’ve seen more than one kid with a mother like that, and they Avereii’t really a bit happier than I am. In fact, one of them—Jimmy Blake —was a most Avretched little shrimp. He Avas six, hut he Avasn’t nearly so big as many kids of four I knoAV ; 'and he used often to haA r e tummy-ache, because his mother let him cat- just anything ho liked. DRESSED-UP KIDS.

Then I am sure no good mother Avould keep a kid ahyays dressed up, so that he can’t play about comfortably. Ido hype that, as I get older, my mother won’t be afraid of a little honest dirt! One is sure to get some, grubbing about after birds’-nests in hedges and wild fknvers on hanks; and then there is the green stuff you get ->n your knickers Avhen you climb trees.

It’s good for boys to do such tilings, but I have actually seen a governess spank a kid because his Avliite drill knickers got a little dirty Avliile lie Avas out for a Avalk in the country! Why, didn’t they leave him at home m a glass case, poor little beggar?. WliiaFs the good of taking children out in the country, and then expecting the.m to behave as if. they AA-ere at a dancing class? THE CLOTHES I WOULD LIKE TO WEAR,

M.y idea of a good mother is one avlio provides good, hard-Avearing serge knickers and tunics and overalls for her kids, and then let them run and climb and roll and tumble about all they Avant to. Hoav. else are they to groAv properly ? Hoav are their muscles to develop and grow strong?

- But some mothers never seem to think of this. They think they can keep their children penned up like images, and still have them'grow up tall, strong, healthy children. But they can’t —that’s certain.