Yet, reason seems to say, that
they who suffer one duty, or affection, to swallow up the rest, have
not sufficient heart or mind to fulfil that one conscientiously. It
then loses the venerable aspect of a duty, and assumes the fantastic
form of a whim.
As the care of children in their infancy is one of the grand
duties annexed to the female character by nature, this duty would
afford many forcible arguments for strengthening the female
understanding, if it were properly considered.
The formation of the mind must be begun very early, and the
temper, in particular, requires the most judicious attention- an
attention which women cannot pay who only love their children
because they are their children, and seek no further for the
foundation of their duty, than in the feelings of the moment. It is
this want of reason in their affections which makes women so often run
into extremes, and either be the most fond or most careless and
unnatural mothers.
To be a good mother- a woman must have sense, and that
independence of mind which few women possess who are taught to
depend entirely on their husbands. Meek wives are, in general, foolish
mothers; wanting their children to love them best, and take their
part, in secret, against the father, who is held up as a scarecrow.
When chastisement is necessary, though they have offended the
mother, the father must inflict the punishment; he must be the judge
in all disputes: but I shall more fully discuss this subject when I
treat of private education, I now only mean to insist, that unless the
understanding of woman be enlarged, and her character rendered more
firm, by being allowed to govern her own conduct, she will never
have sufficient sense or command of temper to manage her children
properly.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253