"Tweedledum and Tweedledee Agreed to have a battle;
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Sun Sign Leo - The Leo Child |
For Tweedledum said Tweedledee Had spoiled his nice, new rattle."
Remember the game you used to play called Follow the Leader? Remember the little fellow who always sulked when he didn't get to be leader? If he was the same pal who loaned you money to buy licorice sticks and Eskimo pies when your allowance ran out, you must have had a Leo in your neighborhood gang.
The typical lion cub is sunny, happy, playful, and jolly when he gets his own way. When he doesn't, storm clouds gather out of nowhere, along with a thunderous roar, or a hurt, brooding withdrawal. Even if he does seem to be a bit full of himself, the young Leo shouldn't be constantly put down. Suppressing his enthusiasm and high spirits can cause deep scars that may darken his Sun for years. Little lions and lionesses have a habit of bossing the other children which often annoys the mothers of more inhibited youngsters, but they should be restrained gently and never scolded harshly in front of playmates. The great pride of the Leo reacts violently to an attack on vanity, especially in public.
It's good to encourage the natural leadership in Leo children, but they should be taught that everyone must have his turn, because that's the fair way, even if they are stronger than the others.
The leonine sense of justice will usually cause the youngster to see the light. He's not maliciously aggressive. He just has a compulsion to head for the front of the parade. These boys and girls have a strong urge to show off, and it's hard to discourage if it's allowed to get out of hand. The little lion is the one who proudly stands on his head in the schoolyard or walks on a fence to thrill the girls. Wise parents will begin early to make the Leo child realize that showing off is really very undignified. This normally works like a charm, since Sun-ruled children have an innate sense of dignity.
You'll notice it in the tiniest Leos. There's a sort of regal bearing, which creates the impression that baby is monarch of all he surveys. The term "His majesty, the baby" was coined to describe a Leo infant. Little cubs will begin early to rule the roost, wrapping mother and daddy and the entire retinue of relatives around their fingers with very little effort. It's the oddest thing, but a small lion sitting on his throne-I mean in his high chair-covered with prune juice and egg yolk, and needing a change of diapers, will somehow manage to keep his dignity intact. It comes naturally to a Leo baby to allow doting parents and admiring friends to pay homage to him, while he graciously accepts their attention, gifts, and nattering tributes. He finds adoration very easy to take. Notice the pleased, smug look on his face when strangers stop to make a fuss over him.
Your Leo child will be more reckless than the average youngster, take more chances and be more active. Then will come those periodic spells of leonine laziness, when he'll lie around the house too tired to lift a finger, except to motion for you to wait on him. Leave him alone and make him understand no one is his servant. If he wants something, he can get it himself when his energy returns. Otherwise, a spoiled Leo child can become a regular tyrant. Now and then, of course, it doesn't hurt to bring him a book, hand him a glass of chocolate milk or otherwise perform a friendly favor. But a little such submission to the lion's whims is plenty, unless you have a secret urge to be a lady-in-waiting or a prince's equerry. Leo youngsters who have been trained that they must respect the rights of others if they are to be respected themselves can be lots of fun to live with. They're as playful and affectionate as those adorable little cubs you see at the zoo, and like the cubs, they need strict and loving discipline. The warm kiss and the tough birch rod will both have to be employed frequently by lion tamers. Either one without the other is always ineffective and dangerous.
There arc two kinds of Leo boys and girls. The first kind are the extroverts, gay, cheerful, outgoing, warm and generous, if a bit pushy at times. The others are quieter, almost timid on the surface. Such outwardly bashful little lions may have suffered a serious blow to their vanity from domineering parents or from too much attention being paid to brothers and sisters. Secretly, they need power and applause as much as the others. The danger in such situations, if they're prolonged, is that the Leo child will either get the attention he seeks later in life by forcing issues at the wrong time with the wrong people, or retreat into painful shyness and destructive frustration. Leo ego, unnaturally bottled up for long periods, is most unhealthy.
As youngsters, Leo boys may like to play with soldiers and enjoy games of challenge with a strong element of chance. The little female Leo will be ladylike, if strong-willed, may enjoy nice clothes and being told she's pretty, and will probably like being given responsibilities around the house. An occasional Leo girl is a tomboy, but vanity will eventually win out, and the phase passes. Don't expect these youngsters to enjoy taking out the garbage or clearing the floors. They will rebel against menial tasks, so assign them more important and dignified duties that give them a sense of authority.
Teachers can expect the Leo students to do a little instructing of their own. They love to explain things to others, and nothing delights them more than playing the role of substitute instructor when the teacher has to leave the room. It puts them in the spotlight. Normally, the Leo child left in charge at school will administer discipline happily, but now and then his playful spirit will come forth, and the teacher can return to find a three-ring circus in progress.
Young Leos can leam fast when they want to. They're intelligent, and are often richly rewarding to the patient teacher, but they have a tendency to be a little lazy about learning. They prefer to slide by on sunny personality and ingratiating charm. Teachers can be a little sun blinded by their smiles and compliments, and it's not unusual for little cubs to get better grades than they deserve. They may have to be forced to develop good study habits. On second thought, forcing is a waste of time. The easiest way to raise the grades of a Leo child is to appeal to his vanity, to make him want to be superior to the others. That will usually turn the trick. When he's good, pat him on the back so he really feels it. Light taps won't do. No matter how many compliments he gets, he's always hungry for more.
These children will probably require more spending money than their more frugal friends. Your Leo child may give away most of his spare nickels, but he won't short-change himself, either. It's a good idea to teach him the rule the Rockefeller children were taught about finances:
"Give some, spend some, save some." Especially the last When they grow older, the young lions and lionesses will notice the opposite sex much sooner than youngsters born under other Sun signs. Expect a turbulent adolescence, because your Leo child will be up and down emotionally a hundred times a day. Both his friendship and his romances will be terribly dramatic, and full of colorful ecstasy and heartbreak. All Leo children love to go to parties. Give them plenty of freedom, or they'll simply take it. Harsh orders destroy their pride and dignity. If you build the courage and flatter the ego of your young Leo by telling him sincerely you know he can do it, he'll proudly be strong for you.
It's never an easy task to raise an August child. There will be moments when you feel your caged lion will never be tamed. But he can be, if you remember that he needs gentle and continuous discipline-and love and affection are the two magic keys that unlock his golden heart. It's not the lions who were adored as children who grow up into unhappy adults. It's the little cubs who were emotionally starved and neglected. Remember that he'll pretend to be very brave, but secretly fears he isn't. Hug him tightly every night and love him with all your heart.