Vocabulary

to quit

to break one's word

to confess

to make good a threat

handicapped

to put someone through college

inflation

to pitch in

woe

Discussion

1. To bribe is to influence someone to do something by giving favors or gifts. Do you believe it is fair of parents to bribe their children ("Be a good boy and I'll let you stay up an hour longer," or "Clean up your room and I'll give you a dollar")? Is the mother's offer of college in the same category?

2. The agreement between Martha and her mother can be expressed as affirmative statements: The mother will finance the daughter's college education; in return, the daughter will agree to stop smoking. How does this bargain reflect the values of the mother? Of Martha? Do you think the bargain is equal on both sides?

3. Do you agree with the mother's theory?

Writing

Write a letter to Woe, as if you were Ann Landers, in which you state your opinion.

From the desk of Ann Landers

Dear Woe,

You have painted yourself into a corner by violating two cardinal rules for disciplining children: (1) Never over-promise or over-threaten; and (2) Make sure the punishment fits the crime. Now you must go to Martha and say, "I am opposed to your smoking because it could be extremely damaging to your health. It is also a filthy habit and an expensive one. I withdraw all previous threats, however, and leave the decision up to you."

Vocabulary

to paint yourself into a corner

to violate

cardinal

the punishment fits the crime

to oppose, to be opposed

extremely

to damage

to withdraw

previous

Discussion

1. What was Martha's "crime"? What sort of punishment would have "fit" this crime?

2. Do you remember being disciplined as a child? What methods did your parents use? Which of these will you use when you're a parent?

3. Are you opposed to young people smoking? What would you do if a younger brother or sister were doing something you thought was dangerous or bad for them?

Situation 9.

In-Laws Demand Helping Hand

Dear Ann Landers,

Most of the letters that appear in your column come from city people. Please print a problem that might be boring to your urban readers, but farm folks need help too. My husband and I have been married fifteen years. We have five children and we get along fine. The only thorn in my side is my in-laws. They have the farm next to ours and we end up doing all their hard work.

Every morning for fifteen years my father-in-law has telephoned my husband before breakfast, or worse, has come over here in person and told my husband what to do, as if he were a small child. If we are at the breakfast table, my father-in-law pulls up a chair and tells him to hurry up.

When my in-laws go on vacations, we are expected to do the chores. They cannot do our chores when we go on vacation because they can barely handle their own. So, when we leave town, we have to hire help. I feel they should do the same.

My husband has two brothers but they were a lot smarter than he was. They went to college and got away from their parents. It burns me up to listen to them and their wives tell us how comforting it is to know that the folks have somebody near to help them, now that they are getting on in years.

We can't move so please don't suggest it, Ann. Just tell me if there is any way to get a grown man to cut himself loose from his parents so he and his family can lead their own lives.

Dakota Plight