Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 193
! ! 193 will not be drawn to them. Another defect which corrupts children’s morals is caused by poverty. Sometimes such parents are themselves greedy, and when they bring something home , they eat it themselves and do not share it with the child. Consequently, the chil d develops the habit of sneaking food within the home and then gradually begins to steal food from outside the home. In this way , the child’s character becomes corrupt, and he goes astray. Therefore, when parents bring food into the home, the y should first give it to their children and then eat it themselves. The second failing created by poverty is that while som e parents may not be like those who partake of something and refuse to share it with their own children, but when a child wants something and they cannot afford to fulfill the ir wish, they beg it from others. They say that our child also wants things and , in this way , they can satisfy his wish. Yet , by adopting this approach instead of curb ing the child’s desires, they aggravate it. I f you explain to the child that you are poor and cannot afford it, t he y will be satisfied upon hearing this. No on e is more content than a child. However, if we have nothing and we go to others to fu lfill their desires, the result will be the child’s inability to develop patience and contentment and their greed w ill only escalate. Thus, the poor should not try to arouse their children’s desires , but should inst e ad attempt to curb them , so that they cultivate patience and contentment. Next, parents should not allow the ir child to linger in such areas where the rich are enjoying good food. Not only should children be discouraged from wandering around s uch places, but adults are directed to do the same. This is because i f you do not have something which others have , it is a sin to even gaze upon it as this will cultivate an evil desire. Some parents who may be poor do not forbid their children to wander in the areas where the rich eat and drink. Th is creates a desire which if unfulfilled leads them to try and acquire it by whatever means possible. Therefore , it is the parents’ duty to stop their children from gathering in such areas and to forbid them from