The SCORPIO Child

The SCORPIO Child

"What else had you to learn?" "Well, there was Mystery ... Mystery, ancient and
modem,

with Seaography . . . Drawling, Stretching

and Fainting in Coils."

The usual reaction of proud parents at the first glimpse of their newborn Scorpio
infant is pleased surprise. "He looks so much more 'finished' than the other babies

in
the nursery," they murmur. "He's calmer too-and just look at what a strong body he
has." That's right, even the tiniest Scorpios normally have extraordinarily strong
bodies. They were designed to match their extraordinarily strong wills.

Scorpio children enjoy a good fight, and they intend to win it. Compromise is not
one of their virtues. Even if they pretend to give in, they're just biding their time
until the contest can be resumed on another front, where they have the advantage.

As soon as you know the stork is due in November or (hereabouts, go right out and
buy a large, sturdy playpen. You'll need one. After baby arrives, you can climb
inside it and read a book or eat your lunch, safe and secure behind the bars. The
saleswoman may look at you oddly when you lie down on the blue plastic bunny
pad to measure its fit, but ignore her. If you can't take the stare of a stranger, how




are you going to face the burning gaze of your own child without flinching? The
Scorpio infant will fix you with his intense eyes as soon as he can see people
without the fuzzy haze, and you'll be hypnotized into obeying his every whim.
Picture him sitting cross-legged on the floor in his diaper and turban, playing his
flute, while you sway back and forth helplessly, like a snake in a basket. Good grief!
So better start steeling yourself against his black magic right now. Give that
saleswoman a frosty stare right back. It's your money you're spending.

If your actions seem a little peculiar, it's not her business to dictate to you. You are
the customer. Therefore, you are the boss. With minor changes, this is the exact
attitude you'll need to cope with your young Scorpio. It's your house. If your rules
seem a little peculiar, it's not baby's business to dictate to you. You are the mother.
Therefore, you are the boss. As you say it, stare him down.

You'll have your work cut out for you, but it's an interesting challenge. The Scorpio
child will need constant and firm discipline. You'll have to impress the qualities of
consideration for weaker people, being a good sport when he loses, respect for
authority and forgiveness when others hurt him. As you train his fine character,
you'll be impressed yourself with his brilliant mind and magnetic personality. His
rare courage and honesty are well worth nourishing and protecting from the
infection of a super ego that can pervert or destroy them.

There are two roads for the Scorpio to choose-the high and the low. For a while, you
may be convinced that he's chosen the back alley before he's even learned to walk.
Fluttery, nervous or soft mothers are beaten before they start. Your little Scorpio
toddler will glare at you fiercely when you forbid him to touch something. Glare
back at him, kindly but firmly. It may be difficult to accomplish a kindly glare, but
keep practicing. Smile through your clenched teeth and say no loudly, with
emphatic conviction. You'll only win a temporary struggle; it will be resumed again
an hour later, but it's a step up that high road. Eventually, the Scorpio youngster will
begin to admire you for your strength in resisting him. Hell learn only from
someone he thinks is stronger than himself. Of course, he knows the victory is only
due to his present size, and he'll top you someday, but meanwhile, he'll give you his
grudging respect, as long as you're bigger. By the time he's tall enough to wrestle
his older brother to the floor or win a game of Indian deadlock with his father your
job will be done. You'll be a little exhausted, but proud, and he'll be well on the way
to becoming a splendid eagle, instead of a stinging, revengeful scorpion. Warning:
Be sure there's a generous spreading of love and affection on top of your firm
discipline, or he could become a miserable gray lizard, tortured by fears and
phobias, bitter and withdrawn.

Because of his blunt, often sarcastic speech and plain-spoken manner, he'll seem to
be forthright and direct, but there will still be a great need for privacy. He has his
little secrets and you are not to pry. Give him a large metal box with a key, where he
can keep his personal possessions, or a special drawer of his own that no one else

in
the family can open by strict agreement. As female Scorpios grow older, they'll




want a diary with a foolproof lock.

These youngsters will conceal their own thoughts, but trying to hide things from
them is impossible. They'll ferret out every embarrassing family secret from Aunt
Bertha's false teeth and Uncle Percy's drinking sprees to Dad's "rug" that hides his
bald spot. They're also whizzes at finding lost socks, keys, billfolds and lipsticks-
regular miniature sleuths who use both witchcraft and cold logic to solve any
mystery.

There's a miraculous ability to withstand pain. Even the stitches required to sew up
an accidental cut will usually be borne without either tears or anesthetic. Your
Scorpio youngster is wise beyond his years. There will be times when his instinctive
understanding is a blessing. Daddies who are discouraged by financial problems
often feel the surprising pressure of a bear hug from a little tot far too young to
understand economics. He only knows his father is unhappy, and he'll want to
express his desire to destroy whatever is causing it. When she's ill or depressed, a
mother may get an unexpected, silent and tender touch from a tiny Scorpio who has
somehow sensed her sadness.

Scorpio children are filled with boundless loyalty to friends and loved ones. They
can be pretty hard on anyone else. If a bad-tempered playmate deliberately breaks
his rocking horse, the Scorpio youngster may break the offending child's scooter,
fire truck and blackboard-and punch him in the nose besides, just to make sure he
knows he's stepped on a Scorpio's tail. Naturally, this must be discouraged, and I
wish you luck. You can tell your November child that revengeful anger will come
home to roost, that he's only hurting himself by getting even, but it won't be easy for
him to see the logic. Get him one of those boomerangs they sell in toy stores, and let
him throw it with all his force. When it's shocked him by magically returning to clip
him on the ear a few times, he may get the message. It won't be as popular with him,
of course, as a microscope, a book of magic games or a chemistry set These are
sure-fire hits.

His teachers won't know whether to send him to the head of the class or get out the
old birch switch. Theyll ; probably end up doing both. Scorpio boys and girls have
sharp, penetrating minds and an uncanny perception of theories. They can be
steadies on the honor roll or the biggest hookey players in the neighborhood. Given
the good fortune of wise instructors, they'll leam to read quickly and be leaders of
school activities.

The Scorpio child has a good chance of being class valedictorian if he's guided
away from his fascination for the forbidden. Keep him active physically and
interested mentally, and channel his passionate curiosity into science, literature,
medicine or sports. Encourage his childish dreams of being a space engineer, sailor,
fireman, minister, entertainer or even president. Never try to force him into your
favorite idea of the proper career. That's a perfect way to send him down that low
road to dangerous experimentation in the dark alleys of life. He knows exactly what
he wants, and it's a serious mistake to impose your will. Be loyal to him, and never




break your word or a promise.

He needs opportunities to work off his gigantic supply of bottled-up energy because
he'll seem to be more calm and relaxed than he really is inside. Displays of nerves,
arguments at mealtime and family squabbles at bedtime will bring nightmares, and
are extremely detrimental to both his mental and physical health. He has many
intense passions and boiling emotions to manage, and subduing his volatile nature

is
a tough task for him, but he'll control it beautifully with careful guidance. Rough,
thoughtless scoldings that lack a logical explanation, and permissive humoring are
equally disastrous. Scorpios are fascinated by drugs, so keep them out of reach. Hell
be drawn to fire, too, so don't leave matches around.

He'll love Halloween, monster shows on TV, science-fiction and ghost stories. He'll
also be fond of the opposite sex. Don't be shocked if you catch your five-year-old
Scorpio son making "mysterious eyes" at the curly-headed first-grader next door.
He's going to be a Lover someday. You'll never prevent that. But you can prevent
some future romantic tragedies by teaching both sexes in adolescence the
importance of responsibility in affairs of the heart. Scorpio deeply respects the
family circle. Explain that careless romantic behavior destroys it, and he'll listen.
Whatever he becomes, he'll be the best in his chosen field. The Scorpio youngster

is
determined enough to get what he wants, and strong enough to hang on to it. But
don't let his self-sufficiency keep you from giving him your support. He needs it,
even though he appears to scorn approval. You'll have to help him find a worthy
goal toward which he can direct the inner passions that threaten to consume him.
This is a strange, enchanted child, with possibly an important destiny, and he has
miles to go before he reaches it. Walk with him as long as he needs you, then let
him walk alone. He'll return safely with whatever prize he seeks. Pluto gives him
great courage, strength and intelligence, but it's up to you to give him what he

needs
most: a daily example of how to love-and be loved in return.