Above all else, keep the confidence of your child,
so that he will come to you with every trouble of
life. Confidence of children in their parents
is a gift from God. All children have it at first.
See the tottering baby cling to its mother for support;
watch it run to her when it is frightened. Can
it not have the same confidence when it is older?
I answer from experience that it can and should.
Truth inspires trust in your child. If you do
not think it best to answer all his questions fully
at the time when he asks them, tell him at least enough
to satisfy his curiosity, and promise him that, if
this remains a secret between you and him, he may
come to you whenever he wants more information.
Do not be afraid of having secrets with your child.
The matter may be trifling, but the fact that he is
helping you to keep secrets will teach him to value
his word and will increase his confidence in you.
On the other hand, if you tell him an untruth, do
not think that he will come to you again. No,
he will doubtless go to some friend who he thinks will
tell him, and thus get his young mind tainted with
impure thoughts. And little better in results
than telling an untruth is putting the child off till
some future time. These questions must be met
when they arrive.
You may say, “I don’t know how much to
tell at any one time.” Wisdom is necessary
here. No more should be told than will satisfy
the present curiosity of the child. A few questions
on your part will readily discover what information
he has gained and how much he wishes to know.
A boy of scarce six summers once came to his mother
with a question of life. The mother was shocked;
but, offering an earnest prayer for wisdom, she questioned
the child and found that he had heard remarks made
by older boys. As his mind was developed enough
to comprehend part of their conversation, his curiosity
was aroused. Having perfect confidence in his
mother, he had sought her for an explanation of the
points that perplexed him. As simply as possible,
that mother gave the information, ending with the
words, “Now, darling, this is to be a perfect
secret between us; and when you are old enough, I will
tell you more.” Years passed by until the
boy was in his eleventh year; then he once more went
to his mother for information. “Mama,”
he began, “do you remember the time you told
me a secret?” She answered that she did, and
he continued: “Well, I have kept that secret.
I have never mentioned it to any one. And do
you remember that you said some time you would tell
me more?” When she answered, “Yes,”
he said quickly, “Don’t you think I’m
old enough now?” In answer, the mother put her
arms about him and said, “My son, you shall
hear all you wish to hear. What is it, dear?”
Then as each question came, she gave him a satisfactory
answer, and ended by saying, “Whenever you want
to know more, come to me, and I will tell you.”
That boy continued to go to his mother; and when he
entered the most trying period of his life, her advice
kept him from the dangers into which so many fall.
In hours of trial she was able to point him to the
Savior. Never neglect the duty of warning your
child of danger.
