170
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
May, 1936
A California home—H. Roy Kelley, architect. Courtesy, California Arts & Architecture.
When Two Parents were AWAKENED B y ESTHER WILSON TURNER* Oakland, California
(The following dialogue between a father and a mother is given in three episodes’,;"five years apart. The first deals with the early married years when there are two small children in the home, Nancy, aged five, and Billy, barely three. The second episode finds these children in school, making new acquaintances in an enlarged environment. A baby brother and sister have joined the family circle. The third episode shows the older children in the teen age with all its allurements and constant necessity for choices. The younger children are in the lower grades at school. To keep pace with these growing children, or rather to anticipate and prepare for the different stages of their development, is the task confronting these parents.) E pisode I. M o t h e r : Y ou should have heard the lecture given at the church today, Bob. It was particularly for parents of young children. If what the speaker said is right, and I ’m sure it is, you and I must do differently, or our children will never fulfill the ideals we have for them. F a t h e r : N ow w h at are we doing w rong o r n o t doing a t all? ..................; M o th er : He showed that the very early years are the most important o f all for giving a life trend and for the formation of habits. You know how often we have said, “When they are older, we’ll begin to teach them these things.” He said, “Begin now.” F a t h e r : W h a t, fo r in stan ce? *Mrs. Norman F. Turner, who is engaged in the work of prepar ing and publishing the. Christian Home Builder and the Graphic Guide, described on page 204.
M o t h e r : He mentioned a right conception of God, respect for others’ possessions, reverence in prayer and at church, prompt obedience, and the utmost care in establish ing right habits early. F ather : Did he tell you how to do all this, or did he leave it for you to invent a way ? M o t h e r : Naturally he didn’t havé time to go into the methods, but urged us as parents to study the best ways. He recommended several books on these various subjects, also some magazines. But he was most emphatic when he said we must take time to plan and to check up on ourselves and the children. He suggested a family get-together, once a week, even when the children are small. F ath er : Looks as if it would have to be on Sunday, then. That’s about the only time I get to see the youngsters for any length of time. M o t h e r : What do you say? Shall we begin next Sunday? Will you make out a list of things you think Nancy and Billy are old enough to be doing and thinking about ? I ’ll do the same ; then we can compare. F a th er : Seems to me the checking up will be for u s parents as much as for the children, but I can see its value already. It is easy to drift along, thinking our duty done when food and clothes and shelter are provided. M o t h e r : That’s exactly what the speaker said, Bob, that thè great majority of parents, including Christian parents, did not concern themselves greatly about their children’s mental and spiritual development. They just left it to the school and church. F a t h e r : Well, that’s what they’re for, isn’t it? M other : Of course. It isn’t so bad with the school, which has the children five days a week, but the time in the church school is so short that it amounts to very little. He
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