Undated – loose typed manuscript
Making friends
“PERPLEXED” writes: “I am faced with the problem of an only child, and would like to ask your advice concerning companionship for my little girl of three and a half years. My doctor tells me I must not have ay more children, which is a great disappointment, as I am passionately fond of them. I am anxious to adopt a child or to have a little companion, as I feel very strongly that my child is badly in need of a playmate. Unfortunately, my husband and I do not agree on this point. He is devoted to the child – in fact, spoils her and indulges her every whim – but cannot see that she is lonely. I was a lonely child myself, and just dread that my own little one should ever feel the same as I did. We have the means, a happy home, nurse, in fact everything to provide for another child and it does seem to me that one ought not to deny the child the happy companionship of children, especially as she is beginning to be self-centred. There is no nursery school in this town to which I could send her, and though she has little friends occasionally to tea, I feel it is not enough. When with other children she acts like a stranger. It is really pathetic, as she seems to have no idea of how to play and romp with them, always being with the grown-ups, I suppose. I should be so grateful to have advice in this matter, as I know my husband would do anything which he considered would be for the child’s good. “
Making friends
“PERPLEXED” writes: “I am faced with the problem of an only child, and would like to ask your advice concerning companionship for my little girl of three and a half years. My doctor tells me I must not have ay more children, which is a great disappointment, as I am passionately fond of them. I am anxious to adopt a child or to have a little companion, as I feel very strongly that my child is badly in need of a playmate. Unfortunately, my husband and I do not agree on this point. He is devoted to the child – in fact, spoils her and indulges her every whim – but cannot see that she is lonely. I was a lonely child myself, and just dread that my own little one should ever feel the same as I did. We have the means, a happy home, nurse, in fact everything to provide for another child and it does seem to me that one ought not to deny the child the happy companionship of children, especially as she is beginning to be self-centred. There is no nursery school in this town to which I could send her, and though she has little friends occasionally to tea, I feel it is not enough. When with other children she acts like a stranger. It is really pathetic, as she seems to have no idea of how to play and romp with them, always being with the grown-ups, I suppose. I should be so grateful to have advice in this matter, as I know my husband would do anything which he considered would be for the child’s good. “
I certainly think you would be very wise to try to get a companion for your little girl. You are quite right in feeling that she must be so lonely, even though she enjoys so much having her parents all to herself. The child of even the best parents does need the companionship of other children. As you wisely feel, your little girl cannot always have you both to herself, and to have you in that way now hardly makes the best preparations for school life or for later experience in the world outside the home. Your little girl’s behaviour with other children shows very clearly how much she needs them, and I think she would be very much better off if she had a constant playmate.
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