Show nu 1 1 THE MESSAGE By MARGARET RUSSELL Dear me here we are well into January and Ive I've already broken all my new year Ive I've always been a great resolution In my youth I used to make long lists of highly high high- ly motivated memos with the idea in mind of becoming perfect perfect perfect per per- as soon as possible Instead I progressed steadily in the other other other oth oth- er direction Somewhat demoralized I began began began be be- gan making one resolution only each year This didn't work either So this year I tried something something something some some- thing else Once when Mike was little I Iwas Iwas Iwas was scolding him about being dirty I mentioned among other things that it didn't really realty matter matter matter mat mat- ter to me whether he kept clean cleanor or not that he was the one who would lose all of his friends his confidence his health etc etc He looked at me sadly and said Mother I wish you wouldn't use reverse psychology on me Well reverse psychology sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times worl works work's s miracles human nature being what it is So this year I used reverse psychology on myself I resolved 1 I. This year I absolutely under no circumstances will not diet Its It's bad for your health to go up and down like a yo-yo yo and its it's better to be round and g good good- od- od natured than thin and mean so ther there 2 2 I resolve to be impatient with the children because the little rascals dont don't appreciate patience and take advantage of it 3 I resolve to let my housework housework housework house house- work go as long as I feel so inclined because worrying about it will only give me an ulcer 4 I resolve not to take any responsibility for the childrens children's school work or their little talks in church etc because they need to stand on their own two feet and take the responsibility themselves 5 I resolve to yell at Austin whenever I feel like it because its it's good for him and will keep me from being frustrated and having a nervous breakdown I was determined to keep these excellent resolutions but have found myself breaking everyone of them It wasn't easy either I mean I really had to knock myself out to break these resolutions but just felt like I HAD to I re really Uy dont don't think though that Ill I'll use the reverse psychology method again |