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The tragedy is, far too many young people never experience love or approval, especially on the part of parents.  Dr. Wanda Walker wrote:  “A study of maladjusted teen-agers recently conducted in a large city high school in Oklahoma by a team of counselors shows how it is important to tell our children that we love them.  After the counselors had worked long enough to gain rapport and confidence of ten of the students who were the most maladjusted in the school, they asked them how long it had been since their parents had told them that they loved them.  Not a single one could ever remember having heard such a comment.  By contrast, the counselor visited with ten of those considered best adjusted and well-accepted, the outstanding leaders in the high school, and asked the same question.  Without exception, they answered either ‘this morning’ or ‘last night’ or indicated that they had been verbally reassured of their parents’ love within the past few hours.”

Happiness Is Still Home Made, T. Cecil Myers, pages 71, 72