Scouting, Volume 52, Number 8, October 1964 Page: 13
32 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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throws up a cactuslike barricade against any affectionate
gesture.
In fact whatever affection he may feel toward his
parents, he is extremely careful never to disclose. His
mother's kissing him hello or good-bye is a source of
minor embarrassment. He seldom stops at the door long
enough for this practice. When he does show his affec-
tion, it is likely to be through the medium of horsing
around—a playful shove, a slap on the back, or a fake
mouse in the bed. Any discussion of his love for his
parents or theirs for him is utterly taboo.
His rebellions include having to come home at what
he terms a "baby hour" and not being able to make all
plans fit his own convenience and desires. And then he
turns around and offers to wash the windows or spends
his allowance for a bouquet of llowers for Mother's Day.
He does his household chores with a minimum of enjoy-
ment. but with a minimum of griping also.
In the mad rush toward his total independence, he is
often impatient with rules and regulations and is some-
times quick with the current smart crack. But he is learn-
ing to say. "I'm sorry," without feeling that he has per-
manently damaged his ego.
In most things, he is quite self-reliant, but resents any
implication that he is not yet entirely adult. He does not
like to hear words like duty, consideration, and respon-
sibility, and his reaction is always an impatient, "I know,
I know." His favorite phrases are, "I'm not a baby any-
more'" and "Look, you don't understand!"
He can be easily hurt, and many things pierce the
not-quite-hardened shell he designs so carefully. His face
PERILOUS
BRINK
flushes when some adult makes a derogatory remark
about teen-agers; but he remembers abruptly to hold his
tongue, though he may slam the door. His sense of in-
justice is quick and enormous.
He is currently mad about gum soles, hot-rod cars,
popcorn, and girls. He is quite content to play the same
record 4,000 times in one afternoon. He will explain,
patiently and enthusiastically, what a customized car is,
all about duals, and how to lay a strip. Popcorn is a must
while viewing television, and several girls have worn
his dog tag.
He wants, more than anything, to be accepted by his
contemporaries, his parents, other adults, and especially
girls. He is always slightly shocked when one of his
parents uses some of his group's current terminology.
He may bring home the good news of his school day
as something to be shared and commented upon, but he
seldom mentions his feelings of personal and social
failure. Other times, he feels any mild question is a
horrible invasion of privacy.
He can be as silent as a sphinx about what he really
thinks and feels, and some days his total vocabulary
seems to consist of two words: yes and no.
He dreams of being a hero, making the swimming
team, and winning a Jaguar in a toothpaste contest. He
is amazed and a little awed by newborn babies. Mostly,
the exterior he presents to the world is as bland as vanilla
pudding. But underneath, he worries about himself and
his place in the future.
He needs to know that those around him have a strong
and continual affection for him, even though he resists
any outward signs of it. For he is reaching out toward
a different kind of love; and, though he never speaks of
it, he hopes to find it.
His ideals for himself are as high as the brightest
star in the sky, even though he seldom measures up to
them. He knows he doesn't, but he keeps one eye on
those sparkling goals just the same.
This is his time for fumbling, making mistakes, and
learning to be less intense about everything. This is his
time for waiting . . . waiting to turn the corner with a
long, strong stride and enter the realm of manhood.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 52, Number 8, October 1964, periodical, October 1964; New Brunswick, New Jersey. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth331754/m1/15/: accessed June 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.