First of all, children must know that if father



14 YOU AND YOURS

says a thing, he means it. Children are very ob-
servant. They soon decide whether or not they
may take liberties with father. I have seen a big,
powerful man lay down the law to his child, who
would listen and then act regardless of what was
said. Why? The child knew from experience
that it could do so.
Another father will talk to his child in a quiet
way, and the child will no more think of going
against orders than of putting its hand in the fire.
He knows from experience that the father means
what he says.
A threat may serve the purpose once, but if
it is not carried out it will have no meaning the
second and subsequent times. The threatening or
loud attitude means nothing to a child. What
counts is authority. If the father tells his child
to do something, he must see that it is done. Once
children see that an order is meant, they will re-
spect it. But if a command turns out to be a sug-
gestion or an appeal or an expectation, it should
occasion no surprise if the child acts accordingly.
An order is an order. Either the parent has some-
thing worth while to say to his child when he gives
instructions, or he has not. If not, he had better
remain silent. But if a command is given, let it
be a command, and respected as such.
