"I wouldn't mind being left to take care of the little ones," said
Fannie the other day, "if they would only mind me. But when mamma is
away they think they may do as they please, and they behave like little
witches."
"Mollie manages the nursery splendidly," said Kittie; "the children are
quite angelic under her, but I have not her magic. I seem to stir up the
naughtiness, and the more I tell them to be good, the worse they act."
Now, Fannie and Kittie and other worried elder sisters, let me tell you
the trouble with your management. When you can find the key to a problem
in arithmetic, the rest is easy work.
I think I can whisper in your ear the name of a certain key to your home
problem, when the small brothers and sisters say, as they sometimes do,
"You are not my mamma, you are only Fannie; I want to make a noise, and
you must not bother me."
The key is a word of four letters--TACT. It is a golden key, and is
warranted to fit any lock. You can not get along very well in life
without it. I am very sure that Mollie possesses this shining key.
You remember what a time you had with Willie, who was determined to have
Rosie's French doll as the passenger in his train of cars. Those cars
rush around the parlor at so rapid a rate that everything must get out
of their way or be crushed. Rosie was in great distress lest her pet's
head should be broken, but Willie shouted, blew his whistle, and started
his train just as usual. You snatched the doll away, and put her in the
closet, high out of reach of both children, saying, "When you two can
play without quarrelling, you shall have the doll again, and not until
then." Of course Willie stamped his feet, and Rosie screamed, and there
was a tempest.
You might have managed your little folks, had you only known how, so
that they would have been as obedient as well-trained soldiers, and as
peaceable as two doves in a nest.
I would have said, in your place: "Oh, Willie, what a nice train of cars
you have there, and what a good conductor you are! Is Cécile your
passenger? Oh no, I see she is not dressed for a journey. She has on an
evening dress. Here is Laura"--producing an older and less important
doll--"and she really needs a change of air. I'll slip on her Ulster in
a second, and she will be all ready. She's pining for the country. Here,
Rosie, you may take care of Cécile."
Both children would have been satisfied had you spoken to them in this
way, and the hour would not have been spoiled by crying and fretting.
In managing little ones, when you are not possessed of any real
authority, you must use a great deal of judgment. Humor the children by
entering into their plays. They "make believe" a great deal. You must
"make believe" too.
Many wee people can be led along by gentle words and merry looks, when
they can not be driven without very great trouble. If Susie has a
handsome book which you fear she will spoil, do not hurt her
self-respect by taking it suddenly from her, but bring a scrap-book, and
divert her attention to that. Then she will resign the other very
pleasantly.
Elder sisters and brothers should never be above coaxing the little
ones.