Sons and parents

[Eva Elisabeth]

(01-08-2015 12:15 AM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  

(01-07-2015 07:32 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

What about the kids/educational methods of the other characters in the Lincoln saga? Herndon taught (especially nature) and encouraged his children, too. He was not permissive, but did he make use of corporal punishment?
What about Fanny Seward's parental treatment and upbringing, Linda? Or Kate Chase's, Laurie?

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Eva, Fanny was adored by her parents. The following is from Sensitivity and Civil War: The Selected Diaries and Papers, 1858-1866, of Frances Adeline (Fanny) Seward by Patricia Carley Johnson.

"Despite her physical and emotional handicaps Frances Seward exerted every effort to be a good mother. Recognizing in Fanny a tender disposition akin to her own, she reared her daughter with firmness tempered with gentleness, understanding and affection. Nor would she or Seward permit anyone else to utter a harsh rebuke in front of the child."

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Thank you, Linda. I recall she was adored, but don't know anything about her (school) education. What about the point Toia made of encouraging the children to have an opinion? If I recall correctly e.g. Julia Taft, at home (but not at the White House with the Lincolns), was restricted in this regard in some way. But maybe boys enjoyed
greater liberties to do so?

I also still wonder what kind of woman Mary Harlan was. Was she as "modern" in such matters (e.g. interest in politics, stating her opinion freely) as MTL, or was she a rather Victorian woman who held back and restrained herself to the women's duties/chores of the days (in German called "the 3 K's" - "Kinder, Küche, Kirche", meaning "children, kitchen, church" - is there any appropriate/similar English phrase for this?)? Did Mary Harlan "meddle" into Robert's career like MTL did in her husbands?