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The most beautiful time of life is at the ages of eleven and twelve. At this period a child's mind has out-grown its body. He never thinks more clearly, more fairly, more logically, more sincerely than at this age. His differentiations are wonderful. His conscience is quick, his vision clear, his heart warm, his hands willing, his feet faithful in loving service. Before a child is eleven his physical life is prominent. It grows more rapidly than the intellectual life, but at eleven and twelve the intellectual life out-grows the physical and quickens the human spirit in beautiful freshness, buoyancy and spontaneity.
This is nature's respite of meditation; it is the time when a child is to decide the kind of life he is going to live; whether ugly or beautiful; kind or rough; thoughtful or neglectful; a fighter or a peacemaker; helpful or harmful; a joy to the home or a sorrow. The most sacred time for the preparation of life is at eleven and twelve. All persons dealing with life building should use to the limit this growing junior child. How I do love those children, bright, alert, sweet, darling, affectionate, precious youngsters!
Physical Impulsiveness: At the age of 13 the physical life starts up and grows more rapidly than the intellectual. There is a development of physical impulses from 13 on. The impulse for young people is to be determined to have their own way; they want to do as they please; they attempt to disregard rules, regulations, and attempt to blindly have their own way. Girls are particularly head-strong. If they do not get to do as they please they will squall and cry around. If the mother is unprepared, the girl cries long enough and loud enough, her mother will give in. Girlies, if you have to squall to have your own way, please remember that that's the sissiest kind of sissying.
Boys never squall around, cry around, to have their own way. They think that's silly. They go around like an old bear, slamming the door, knocking the chairs around — that's wooden cussing. I would just as soon be a sissy as an old bear; its just 50-50. All this is a storm of impulsive willfulness, characteristic of adolescent youth.
Is this because the boys and girls are awful? No. It is nature's program to permit a storm of impulsiveness to sweep through their lives, forcing them to a decision as to whether or not they wish to become human wolves. Young people can have their own way. They can tear down the path and be heedless of instructions or parental desires. It is neither a mark of smartness or cuteness that one can do as he pleases. Any boy or girl can do as he pleases but not without breaking the spirit of the home. If one gives out the rough stuff he sends his mother out of the room in tears. She has sleepless nights; there are thorns in her pillow; she is troubled. Dad comes home silent but sees the lack of harmony, he senses the confusion caused by the willfulness of his children and swallows the lump in his throat and wonders if all the sacrifices are really worth while.
Young people make or break their home after thirteen. Up until thirteen, mother is the queen of the home. Her spirit prevails; her suggestions are heard; her counsel is cherished, but after thirteen youth makes or breaks the home. They can be so inconsiderate, so impulsive, so lacking in co-operation, so saucy and impudent that the nights are but pain and the days periods of distress. The home is broken. The children are but human wolves. This period is forced upon young people so that they may decide whether they wish to become human wolves breaking the home or loving, obedient children, beautifully co-operating with dad and mother in making home the most precious spot on earth.
— From Quests and Conquests