t; here a little and there a little."

Children will come in with stories that at first thought do greatly
shock the parent; but under no circumstances should the boy or girl
discover that the parent is shocked, for if he does he will not likely
come again with another such "shocking" difficulty. One mother told me
that her seven-year-old boy, beginning third grade, came into her
bedroom one morning saying: "Mother, I am just busting to say
something," and this mother very wisely said, "Well, say it; certainly
I don't want you to burst," and she told me that this boy whispered to
her three of the filthiest words that he could possibly have heard on
the streets. In relating this experience to me she said: "Do you know,
doctor, that I really did not know what to think at first, but I
remembered that you had taught me never to be shocked, and so I looked
up and asked: "Do you feel better?" whereupon he breathed a big sigh
and exclaimed: "What a relief! I have just been busting to say that to
somebody." Mother, to whom would you rather he would say these things?
to you, or to some little girl out on the street, or to some older
boy? Think what trouble and possible mischief were avoided by
whispering into the sympathetic ear of mother. This wise mother turned
to that little boy and said: "Son, that ear is always waiting for just
such things and whenever you feel like saying something--like getting
it off your mind--you just come to me;" and he came repeatedly. One
time he came in saying: "I don't know whether you want me to play with
Harold or not; he does some of those things you told me about the
other day." And the mother thoughtfully and wisely looked up and said:
"Did he do it in front of his mother? Why of course he didn't. Did he
ask you to go into the bedroom or bathroom and lock the door?" and the
little fellow quickly answered: "Why sure he did; how did you guess
it?" and added "now I suppose you are not going to let me play with
him any more," and this wise mother, knowing that if she denied him
this privilege that it would quite likely be frequently sought, said:
"Why, certainly play with Harold in the open, but whenever he suggests
secrecy--" she did not have time to finish the sentence, the boy said:
"I am wise; whenever he gets to doing that 'funny business' I'll
skiddoo." The confidence between that mother and son, to my mind, was
wonderfully sublime--all the while practical and helpful in his daily
training.