in Christian work of some sort or other. Occasionally we hear of the children of Christian parents who have is a Christian worker and a mother at the same time. She may find herself torn between the natural desire to care for her children in their need and weakness and the demands of her calling. This matter should be discussed but certainly some sort of arrangement must be made so that she will have time to spend with her children in a close and warm relationship. It is good for the family early to make some sort of arrangements for a “family time.” Of course, in many homes there is a definite plan for family devotions. This is certainly important and not to be neglected. I recall one family which was immeasurably strengthened by the fact that every morning the father led his flock in a period of worship. This included not only the reading of some Scripture and prayer but a definite opportunity for singing and for discussion of Christian matters. The family prepared its own loose-leaf hymn book of fav orites so that each child, as well as the parents, had the chance to sing what he really wanted. However, this good plan may be resented by the child if it is only a time to repeat to God all the child’s shortcomings, a “ gone wrong.” I do not know the percentage of such children or whether it is unduly high. However, that such instances do occur cannot be denied. Though the number of hours spent by the father with his son and his daughter may not be the only or most important factor in leading to the wandering of the child, it must be considered. A minister constantly subject to the de mands of his congregation may well find that he never sees his children. It is not surprising that the children, finding themselves given a definitely secondary role and without a real father to help them to understand what it is to be a man, may go astray. A particularly difficult role is that of a woman who (Continued on next page)
O ne of the first problems facing the parent is the sheer amount of time needed for the care of the child. The young mother who first comes home from the hospital with her infant is faced at once with the fact that it takes time to feed the baby, to dress him, to change his diapers, and to bathe him. More time is needed to take care of preparing food, and laundering the clothes. Though these matters may seem very pro saic, they are important for the child’s welfare and also in that they cut into the number of hours which the mother has for herself, for her husband, and for duties outside the home. Certainly a certain amount of freedom of action is lost to the parent when there is a child in the family, and this limitation will continue to some extent until the child is fully grown. It may not be true that a second child will double the amount of time which is needed, but certainly with each later child the responsibility to provide for the needs of all is bound to increase. The mother is not the only one who finds that her time has been greatly curtailed. Indirectly the father may discover that his wife has less time for him, less time to spend with him and fewer hours to take care of things which he has taken for granted up until now. If he is fond of his wife, he realizes that he must spend enough time with the child to relieve her so that she will be able to do necessary things. It is even more important to see that she will have some time to herself to build up a new store of strength from which the constant demands of the child may be met. As the children grow older, the demands upon father’s time are likely to increase to some extent. Whereas previously he may have had periods set aside for himself, now he must think in terms of outings, help with school studies, and other activities which are important if the child is to grow in his understanding of life and of his part in it. This may be particularly important if the father is engaged
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APRIL, 1962
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