ABSTRACT
After too many desperate, but unsuccessful attempts to find something reliably loving in his parent – something warm in her tone, some gentle touch just for him – it is all too easy for a child to cut himself off and harden his heart. It is all to easy for him to say to himself, ‘That love stuff is so sissy. I’m a big boy now. I don’t need it any more.’ It is all too easy for him to stop approaching his mother for hugs; to stop wanting to cuddle up to her in front of the television; to stop telling her he loves her; to stop bringing her little love gifts.
