Evening star., 1953-09-03
Problems To-day
Directing
Teen-Agers
Hard Task
By MurieI Nissen

have been married several years.
and, to our create disappoint-
ment, have no children. We are
very fond of the young people
around us, and delight in taking
them to our lodge at the lake
to swim, for picnics, or to have
them in for an evening Of games
and popping corn. We are very
careful about these groups; the
youngsters are never in the
house alone and their parents all
approve of their being with US.
Rarely do we even have mixed
group; usually it's an all-girl or
all-boy party. Most of them are
high school juniors or seniors.
What's upSetting me is that
many people in the neighbor-
hood are beginning to criticize
us because we are so much with
the young folks, rather than
with those our own age Il am IS,
and my husband Al. My hus-
band and both work, and en-
joy spending our free time with
young people. MRS. L. B.
ANSWER: Directing the social
activities of teen-agers is a de-
manding job for which you and
your husband seem singularly
well equipped. Since the criti-
cism comes from others than the
parents of the children you en-
tertain, I think it can be dis
regarded. would, however, make
two suggestions. One, that you
don't give up the companionship
of your contemporaries alto
gether, and, two, that you try
to direct your talents to more
organized activity.
There is a tremendous need in
most communities for people like
you and your husband, who un-
derStand adoleScentS and are
willing to work with them. If
you would continue your present
course, under the auspices of a
church, or community club, the
scope of your work could be ex-
tended to include many more
teensters, giving them all a
chance to develop socially.
You might begin with a
square-dancing session. then go
to round dancing, putting more
stress on the relationship Of the
youngsters to each other, rather
than between them and you
older people. You have a Won
derful opportunity here for serv-
ice among the young people of
your community, but I do think
a wider field is the answer to
your problem rather than re-
striction to small groups.
DEAR MISS NISSEN: For the
past several months I've been
meeting the same boy at our
church dances. He walks me
home, but never asks for a reg
ular date. Finally, he admitted
the reason he doesn't call for
me is that he's afraid to meet
my parents. He is very shy, but
my parents want to meet him,
since they knew about our being
at the dances together.
MILLY H.
ANSWER: Talk the matter
over with Nom and see if she
can't arrange a more or less
casual way to meet the boy. It's
not a bit uncommon for adoles-
cent boys to be scared stiff at
the prospect Of meeting a girls
parents, but once the first step
is taken, they get along well.
DEAR MISS NISSEN: Ny
husband recently read of the
marriage of one of his former
sweetheartS. He called her
mother, and with great interest
inquired about the details of the
wedding. thought it was out of
order. We have had several
quarrels over the matter but he
won't admit he's wrong.
MRS. G..
ANSWER: Much ado about
nothing! There was nothing in
your husbands conduct to war
rant a quarrel. Since he had
probably been acquainted with
many of the girls friends, his
interest in knowing who was in
the wedding party. etc., was
fairly natural. Why not forget
the incident?
Muriel NiSSen 1OiH reply to all
readers lDho ask her help. Write
for free ledfet D-22, "Don't
Be Lonely" In all cases be
sure to inclose an addressed,
stamped envelope and send re-
quest to her, in care OF the
Womdn's Department, The
EUening Star, Washington 4,
D. C.