Show 0 I Your Baby I II II I and Mine I 1 II I By Myrtle Meyer Eldred I FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND CHILDREN CAUSES TRAGIC SITUATIONS A As Ai tho the result ot of reading reading- letters from Crom mothers for tor many years car we build up ui some strong convictions Ono One firm belief belle Is that tho the chief and avowed purpose of ot most step stop and anti foster parents Is to mako over tho the children in their charge to charge to erase every detect defect to twist and pound them into toto molds which are arc personally pleasing to parents without any thou thought ht for tor their vic vic- tims This Is dono done with a n. real consciousness or or do spirit that would be admirable If it It weren't so ro tragic for tor the children Such Sucha a spirit makes for or conflict and arid defeats de dc- dc feats the tho very purpose of ot the parC parents par par- C n ta The following letter lotter is 18 such a a human interest docu document that we hope every overy adult rearing a a. child not her own will take time to read and ponder over oyer it My r husband and I are both or orphans or- or Having Baying been little loved the love we discovered for each other is a n. miracle of or Wonder There must be others like us orphans step children children of ot divorce growing growing grow grow- In ing to maturity minds and hearts bruised by indifference dislike e even cn hatred shunted about their faults aults discussed before them be belonging belonging be- be longing to nobody defended b by no nobody nobody no- no bOd body loved by nobody eyed with hostility and with no one to resent all aU this but tout themselves Every NEvery Indignity is heaped upon them b by people who would rea readily aven avenge e themselves on anyone Intimidating in intimidating in- in their own children Suffering Suf Sut- boring fering in castoff clothing shoes that tha their feet and listen to the tho never ne chant of or relatives cs you ought to be bo grateful for what wha Is b being done on for tOr you ou NATURAL TARGETS FOR ABUSE The feeling that they have a aright aright right to probe and question every ever thought and action and the tho too timid to withhold the slightest secret Tattled about by relatives an and 1 the time child nauseated b by the distortions distortions dis- dis dis- dis of or fact If he tries to dc defend de- de fend himself he is quickly put in his place b by whomever is uppermost at the moment The most decent seeming 1 people eople treat him as a a. natural target Even those who profess to take th the greatest interest in the child often bruise him hint the most as he is so thankful fOr fop their show of or Interest Tho promises for tor coveted things that tha never novel kept a a. party part a vacation a a. pot pet desires that are aro normal to all children Sometimes in a n. rush of or gratitude he lie confides his innermost innermost inner Inner- most thoughts only to have them then become common cornmon common property People are more callous and indifferent than reaU really to these m mean n stepchildren of oC tho the world And Arid to add to this one ono must sa say they are lacking in understanding of ot children in general A stepmother stepmother step stop mother or mother foster-mother or one who rears the tIie children of relatives has little trouble if It she simply offers them the warm security of or her af affection affection af- af good bood will and understanding understand understand- ing and d does s not tr try except by her own good example to force torce them In any dir direction tIon When she Just lets lots the tho child chUd grow nourished and I warmed by her affection the child in his gratitude makes a real effort to become the ideal child We Vc seldom seldom seldom sel sel- sel- sel dom get bet tho the childs child's viewpoint and andI your OUr letter lotter interested me because o of I that an angle le |