A Place Where Love Abounds

"We should emphasize family life as we live with our children through the years of childhood. Each child in the home should realize that he occupies a place in the 'Republic of the Family',  that he may contribute to the general good of home life. What are the ideals of home life which we are holding before our children? A place where love abounds, where each one shows a thoughtful consideration for others; where each one is surrounded with an atmosphere of freedom; where each one may grow with only that training and restraining necessary to secure the highest development of character. During the period of childhood the mother learns that she can only minister to the growth, that the possibilities of development lie within the children.

In the home the children are self revealing. The mother learns when certain characteristics need to be stimulated, when foibles are to be corrected. The mother learns that she cannot arbitrarily form her ideal, but must develop the ideal in each individual child. Every impulse to good must be cradled and nurtured. As the flower turns toward the sun, so the heart and life of the child should turn toward goodness. The parents must be alert, the home life of the child must be ordered and planned that he may grow under the best conditions.

Work and play occupy a large share of the child's waking hours. These must be provided for by the mother. ... in living with our children we must allow them to enter into our work and live with us. We should allow the youngest child in the home to have some share in the household work, some task which he may call his own, and in the performance of which he will grow in power and strength."  More here at Home Science Magazine, 1908.