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Stella Chess Quotes

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Famous Stella Chess Quotes

“Even today . . . experts, usually male, tell women how to be mothers and warn them that they should not have children if they have any intention of leaving their side in their early years. . . . Children don't need parents' full-time attendance or attention at any stage of their development. Many people will help take care of their needs, depending on who their parents are and how they chose to fulfill their roles.”

PeopleIfsNeedsShouldYearsChildrenHelpingCareTodayMotherParentSidesAttentionRolesStageDevelopmentIntentionMalesLeavingTake CareExpertsAttendance
Author:Stella Chess
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“A child is nothing like a racing car. . . . Souping up babies doesn't work that way. The child is what she is. There is a certainirreducible if elusive core. Pushing, pulling, stretching, and shrinking will not really change it. There may be spectacular interim results. The baby may say the alphabet before she walks, master two-times or even ten-times table at three. In the long run, however, this forced precocity tends to be irrelevant. . . . Whatever gains there are become unimportant. The losses can be irrevocable.”

IfsWayMayChildrenLongTwoRunningThreeLossWalksResultsCarMastersBabyTenGainsTablesCorePushingRacingLong RunsPullingIrrelevantSpectacularStretchingElusiveUnimportantAlphabetShrinkingRace CarIrrevocableChild DevelopmentInterim
Author:Stella Chess
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“Adolescents may be, almost simultaneously, overconfident and riddled with fear. They are afraid of their overpowering feelings, oflosing control, of helplessness, of failure. Sometimes they act bold, to counteract their imperious yearnings to remain children. They are impulsive, impetuous, moody, disagreeable, overdemanding, underappreciative. If you don't understand them, remember, they don't understand themselves most of the time.”

IfsMayChildrenSometimesFeelingsRememberYearningAdolescenceHelplessnessDisagreeableImpulsiveMoodyOverpoweringOverconfidentImpetuous
Author:Stella Chess
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“Life with a daughter of nine through twelve is a special experience for parents, particularly mothers. In a daughter's looks, actions, attitudes, passions, loves, and hates, in her fears and her foibles, a mother will see herself at the same age. You are far enough away to have some perspective on what your daughter is going through. Still, you are close enough, if reminded, to feel it all again.”

IfsFeelsLooksStillsEnoughAgeActionMotherHatePassionParentAttitudeSpecialPerspectiveDaughterNineTwelveLove And HateOur DaughterYour DaughterLove PassionFoibles
Book:Daughters: from infancy to independence
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“Normal children of both sexes and all cultures will follow a more or less standard and universal developmental pattern and timetable, and reach approximately the same level of development at maturity. While a particular culture's need and expectations and teaching will shape the course of development and affect adult capabilities to some degree, normal individuals, whatever their native culture, if transplanted and taught, could learn to meet the normal demands of their adapted cultures.”

IfsNeedsChildrenCultureCoursesIndividualSexLevelsTeachingTaughtParticularDevelopmentShapesDemandDegreesNormalStandardsExpectationsAdultsUniversalPatternsMaturityNativeCapabilityAdaptedDevelopmentalTimetables
Book:Daughters: from infancy to independence
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