Chapter 6: Parenthood 4. Creating a Favorable Atmosphere for Children

The family at its best is a training school of personality, with joy in work and play, unity in aims and ideals, self-confidence, and deep gratification of each member in being able to give joy to the ones who are most dear. Such a home creates an atmosphere favorable to the complete and happy development of children.

It is well for parents to have their children when they are fairly young, lest there should be too great a distance between the generations, and it is a benefit to the child to have brothers and sisters near his own age because they become playmates, share experiences and help one another in personality development.

If a child has too much parental emotion centered upon him, whether of pleasure or dissatisfaction, he does not adjust himself-normally in the world of his equals where he must make his place. He must not be given the feeling that the world revolves around him, but must learn to be a person among persons in the give and take of life.

For the problems of pregnancy and parenthood it is well to take advantage of the helpful books which are available in all good libraries, and to possess the most necessary ones if possible. Some excellent free pamphlets on child training can be secured from the Children's Bureau in Washington. It is well for people to anticipate parenthood, to draw in advance upon the best wisdom available and to plan for children not only in terms of health and support, but also in anticipation of complete family happiness and the sharing of affection.

Giving the child a good start physically becomes easier if he is nursed by his mother. This should be carefully considered by all mothers who want of course to do everything possible for their children.

A certain proportion of married folk find that they do not have as many children as they want. Such people ought not to give up hope, however, for a considerable number, who would otherwise be childless, can have their hope for children fulfilled through modern medical help.

For married couples to have an average of three children will merely maintain the population at its present level, and it is evident that a family which does not maintain itself nor make its contribution to the next generation is falling short of its full responsibility.

The joys of parenthood are enhanced by the thought of building a better future for children and through them. To rear a new generation with the highest ideals, and in accordance with the best procedures in child training, gives to the homemaking task the dignity of an art and a noble profession.

The human race has gone far toward conquering the forces of earth, sea and air, but the advances of the past and present can be crowned with most complete fulfillment only by going forward to achieve the finest type of human living. When we consider the way in which the spirit of man presses forward to reach new heights, we would be faint-hearted if we did not dare to dream of a nobler future for our children, and, in spite of all discouragements, to work with them for a happy and peaceful world.

This better future, however, can not be built without secure foundations in home life. As we think of the millions of homes in all parts of the country, on busy city streets, in pleasant suburbs, in the midst of shady lawns, by lake or stream, or on sun-streaked hillsides, do we not see in these more than anywhere else, the very heart of our nation's life? If we picture fathers returning home with gladness, met by smiling eyes of women, gathering in the home circles amid the romping of children, and if we contemplate all the joy and good will that are constantly being generated in family life, do we not see in and through the home a possibility of building a world on sounder, saner principles, and of creating a type of human life nearer to the heart's desire? For the kind of life and the kind of world we want we must build solid foundations in our homes.