To determine how and in what cases it is best to apply the principle here explained will require some tact and good judgment on the part of the parent.

It would be folly to lay down a rigid rule of this kind to be considered as always obligatory.

All that is desirable is that the mother should understand the principle, and that she should apply it as far as she conveniently and easily can do so.

She will find in practice that when she once appreciates the value of it, and observes its kind and beneficent working, she will find it convenient and easy to apply it far more generally than she would suppose.
_No weakening of Authority in this_.
It is very plain that softening thus the hardship for the child of any act of obedience required of him by giving him a little time implies no abatement of the authority of the parent, nor does it detract at all from the implicitness of the obedience on the part of the child.

The submission to authority is as complete in doing a thing in five minutes if the order was to do it in five minutes, as in doing it at once if the order was to do it at once.