Illustrated Version: The Education of Carl Witte (A Remarkable Book That Shows How to Raise an Ordinary Child into a Genius)

Author: (German) Karl Witte
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: From the day a baby is born, the greatest influence they receive from the external environment comes from their mother. Of course, the father also affects a child's growth, but the mother-child relationship formed through breastfeeding is inseparable and lifelong. Therefore, the bond between a child raised on breast milk and their mother is different from that between a child raised on formula and their mother. Babies subconsciously absorb their parents' personalities, behaviors, and other aspects, gradually imitating them as they grow. Before getting pregnant, my wife and I paid close attention to this. During those times, we often exercised and went everywhere on foot, refusing to ride in a carriage unless it was absolutely necessary. We were both full of confidence about our future son, and my wife had a cheerful personality. We often took walks in the fields or hiked up the surrounding hills, and I even helped her pick wildflowers. I believed that this was not only beneficial for the future child but also strengthened the bond between my wife and me. Our relationship has always been very good, with almost no arguments. I believed that we should maintain harmony for the sake of our unborn son. Pregnant women should maintain a happy and calm state of mind, which especially requires the cooperation of their husband. During their wife's pregnancy, the husband should be considerate and caring in all aspects, reducing her emotional fluctuations and maintaining a positive mood to increase the chances of giving birth to a smart and healthy baby.
In a neighboring village, there was a 5-year-old boy named Joseph, who had a temperament prone to anger and was difficult to raise. His (violent and solitary) personality was caused by his mother's poor emotional state during pregnancy. It turned out that his mother was often beaten by his father during her pregnancy, leaving her in constant worry. This prolonged negative mood affected the fetus even before birth, resulting in his、 (violent, irritable, and solitary) personality after birth. Once a wife becomes pregnant, it is even more important to maintain a regular lifestyle. This is not just for the wife but for both husband and wife, and I was no exception. We arranged a strict schedule, striving to sleep early and wake up early. I used to have the habit of praying late at night, a habit I developed during my youth while studying. As a person who loves to think, the quiet of the night helps me think more clearly. After people fall asleep, I would always read alone under the light, quietly savoring the taste of books. This was truly a great joy in my life. Since my wife became pregnant, I had to give up this habit because I knew pregnant women especially need their husband's tenderness. Moreover, reading late at night would certainly disturb my wife's sleep. Although I lost the joy of late-night reading and communicating with God, I believed it was worth it for my wife and future child.
In caring for my wife, I considered myself a qualified husband; to keep her in a happy state of mind, I did everything I could. Whether it was her diet or other aspects, I strived for perfection. The diet should be light, avoiding overly stimulating foods, and she should drink plenty of water, exercise in the wilderness, keep her body clean, and diligently fulfill her responsibilities. Living in harmony with others, having faith in God, and maintaining a cheerful demeanor made life stable and fulfilling. My wife loved taking hot baths. She considered a hot bath after a long day a form of enjoyment. However, during her pregnancy, I firmly stopped her from doing this, as high water temperatures, though comfortable for her, were extremely harmful to the fetus. Although she was about to become a mother, my wife was still very young and sometimes capricious. As a husband, I often had to coax her. Once, while I was away, she started taking a hot bath again. When I found out, I scolded her.
"How could you do that again? Didn't I tell you that high water temperatures are harmful to the child?"
"Hmph, you only care about the child. Since you got pregnant, I've realized that everything you do is for the child. You don't care about me like before." My wife pretended to be angry.
"How can you say that? The child is ours together. Caring for him is also caring for you. Taking hot baths is indeed harmful to the child now, but once he's born, you can bathe however you like—I won't interfere."
"But these past few days, I haven't gone out, and I feel so uncomfortable. It's as if all my muscles are sore. It's unbearable." My wife argued playfully.
"Didn't you always say that a mother who is unhappy won't give birth to a healthy child? If I don't take a hot bath, I'll be unhappy. What should I do then?"
Although my wife was joking with me, she had a point. So, from then on, every day, I had the maid prepare a hot foot bath for her and personally wipe her body with warm towels.