In your very cradle you will be told that there is noth­ing like a mother, and of course this is true.

Your mother will be, in a sense, your first training ground. She will be your first contact with the female sex. Study her carefully. The lad who learns early how to get around his mother has made a fine start.

LET BOOKS GUIDE YOU

Luckily we live in an enlightened age, one in which child psychology has replaced the more vigorous methods of raising children.

However, even today it is not always safe to assume that your mother has a book on child guidance. If she does not, by all means supply her with one. Many fine volumes have been put out in paper covers and can be bought for a few cents. They are within the reach of any child's allowance, and are an excellent investment. Best not let your mother know who bought the book, if you did. Try this method:

"Mommy, why did Daddy bring this book home?"

"Oh, did he, Davie?" {She will pick it up.) "Well, well. Daddy brought it, did he?"

{Then of course you will have to speak to your father.)

"Daddy, why did Mommy bring this book home?"

This will cause a little harmless confusion and will guarantee a careful reading for the book.

Though they come in many colors and sizes, you will find that these books are all built around one premise: the child is often misunderstood, but never really bad. Punishment merely causes resentment and injures the re­lationship between child and parent.

Encourage this point of view. You will find that no matter what you do, you have done it for a deep-seated reason, and it wasn't your fault. In fact, the book will show that it was your parents' fault. There is no such thing, you will discover, as a bad boy.

"Charles, I don't know what to do with little David! He's been putting frogs in the deep freeze again."

{Or whatever experiments you may have been car­rying on.)

"Well, shall I get out the old belt?"

"Charles! It says right here—mischief is often a symptom that the child feels unloved and unwanted!"

"Oh?"

"Why, you underlined it yourself!"

"I didn't."

"Well, someone did. I think we should do something nice for Davie."

Besides making life more bearable for you, these books will help you to keep your mother well adjusted. A mother who is uncertain, who feels at a loss for the right thing to do, is not a mother you will be proud to show to your friends.

After a while, as your mother becomes more confident, you can branch out into all sorts of activities. The more complicated you seem to her, the better.

Be a challenge to her.

CAN I SHAPE HER CHARACTER?

So many of our young readers, unsatisfied with their mothers, ask us: "Can I improve her character?" The an­swer is, yes, you can. It is best to concentrate on her mind.

Quiet Her Fears

At one time or another all mothers are frightened. You may find that your mother develops strange unreasoning fears of normal, everyday things like rats, mice, snakes, toads, or spiders—things you play with every day.

Do not use these things against your mother, except when you feel you must take strong measures. A fright­ened mother is not an efficient mother, and you both will suffer.

Instead, show her she has no real reason to be fright­ened:

"Here, Mom, just pick him up by the tail. He won't hurt you."

Instill just enough fear so that she will be careful. A fearless mother can be a careless mother, and one that is difficult to control.

Punishment

You may have to punish her from time to time. It will not be pleasant but will result in a better mother.

Tears, tantrums and hunger strikes—used to punish mothers for so many years—have little effect today. The best punishment is mental, and the keen lad thinks up a way that will suit his own mother's mind.

Night tactics are particularly effective. Wake up at regular intervals during the night, say at one, three, and five a.m. Cry loudly. Soon your mother will answer. You may be either (1) too hot, (2) too cold, (3) hungry, (4) thirsty, or (5) afraid of bad dreams.

The expert, however, prefers the simple meaningless wail, which cannot be disposed of with a "Well, go on down and get some graham crackers," or other suggestions allowing the mother to stay in bed. She will come in on the double.

"What's the matter, Davie?"

"Mother, you look lovely with your hair down!"

(Choose any of her good points. Flattery here is effective.)

"Are you all right?"

"Almost, Mother, almost. Nothing you can do. Just sit here a while with me, will you?"

If she brings you to a psychologist (and she may) it is best to take the fellow aside quietly:

"Yes, Master David?"

"Just wanted to brief you, Doctor. If Mother says anything about howling at night, I pretend / did it. No use frightening her, you know."

"You didn't cry out?"

"Hardly! Ask father."

(You may assume your father will sleep through all this. Fathers always do.)

The doctor will comfort and reassure her. This is what he has been trained for, and what he is well paid to do.

Remember, though, that in most cases punishment of any kind is not necessary. Mothers are anxious for ap­proval and will go to considerable lengths to obtain it.

Give her the opportunity to please, and then be gen­erous with your praise.

A WORD OF CAUTION

By following these simple rules you can make your mother useful and happy. She will thank you for it.

You will not only be saving your strength and soothing your nerves, you will be learning, and many of the lessons learned in helping your mother will be valuable in deal­ing with other women.

However, remember this major difference between mothers and Other females: your mother is the only female who will want, from the start, to do something for you. Other women will always begin by wanting you to do something for them.

This is why it is so necessary to bring out the mother in all women as soon as possible. It is far easier to do than it sounds. We will go into it more fully hi later chapters.

Meanwhile your body is growing. Make sure your char­acter grows with it!

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