Homo-Culture; Or, The Improvement of Offspring Through Wiser GenerationHolbrook, M. L. (Martin Luther)
Philosophy
Homo-Culture; Or, The Improvement of Offspring Through Wiser Generation
Holbrook, M. L. (Martin Luther)
Eugenics; Heredity
In early prospect we have but two more points to compass. Perfect health
in all respects he has intact. Self-control and self-sufficiency, both
in amusing himself and in enduring lesser ills, such as bumps and mild
degrees of hunger, he is getting as fast as growth permits. But
obedience and responsibility will soon be needed in his repertoire.
Negative obedience his mother is obtaining already in response to "No,
no," and shakes of the head. Positive obedience will be the far more
vital thing to secure--just as soon as he can help in little ways. Here
we hope to make him responsible as far as can be for the welfare, safety
and amusement of younger playfellows, whether brother or sister it is
now too soon to say.
AT EIGHTEEN MONTHS.--A cold douche has, for three months past, ended his
morning bath, regularly given by his father after his sister arrived,
and his weight became considerable. This douche, poured slowly from a
dipper until redness set in, has added markedly to his spirits,
muscular activity and digestive capacity. It causes screaming at the
moment, but an instant later, as three Turkish towels are wrapped
closely about him, his exuberance is delightful to see. Coincidently he
has taken up a selected diet of solid food, including chocolate and
cooked fruits, and will have but one nap, though often that is a long
one.
As the child is working out of babyhood, every day counting (as no day
of half illness in childhood can count), and well into boyhood, the
single principle already outlined, of leaving the little individuality
to establish its own activities and socialities, seems sufficient, as
the illustrations appended, I believe, prove. Doubtless a child that is
not, day after day, enjoying, and often thrilled by health and life, as
this little boy is, a child not brought up in an unbroken _camaraderie_
with both parents, such as he has had, and particularly a child not
having the send-off of trust and amiable impulse which he received
before his birth, could not be left to blossom in such wild-flower
style. Ugly, sulky or "streaky" conduct, jumping perversely out in place
of good cheer, we have never had to deal with. In fact, we have never
been able to detect the slightest resentment immediately after punishing
him for taking forbidden articles, or for raising an outcry over being
denied sundry things he wanted. His crying when punished is that of pure
grief, and he is ready at once to nestle down under the hand that had
spatted disapproval, to be comforted, resuming good spirits two or three
minutes later on. In the main, simply "No, no!" from either parent, has
sufficed to stop him in the beginnings of mischief, sometimes resulting
in cheerful desisting, and sometimes in a little of what we call the
"grieved cry." But this, too, if it becomes loud or insistent, can be
hushed by another "No, no," and enable him to regain control of himself.
With this regained self-control has always come gratefulness for aid in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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