the abdication of parents

" A writer of today represents a mother as saying -

' But you are not afraid of me, Bessie?'

'No, indeed; who could be afraid of a dear, sweet, soft, little mother like you?'

And such praise is sweet in the ears of many a fond mother hungering for the love and liking of her children, and not perceiving that words like these in the mouth of a child are as treasonable as words of defiance."

".... Meanwhile, it is well worth while to notice that the causes which lead parents to resign the position of domestic rulers are resolvable into one - the office is too troublesome, too laborious."

from Parents and Children, Charlotte Mason