[December 13, 2024] Growing up in the pre-computer, pre-smart phone age offered a number of unexpected opportunities and advantages for boys. These were times when your parents expected you to take care of yourself, be self-reliant and possess grit and determination. And that’s where the saying, boys will be boys originated.
Boys were essentially pushed out of the house while it was acceptable for girls to remain indoors and to help with “domestic” duties. But with the freedom to roam your neighborhood (or town) came a number of explicit rules of behavior. One of those rules was, for example, don’t embarrass your family.
That rule was broad enough and also vague enough to be misinterpreted. “Go play with your brother” could be fun if you were mischievous like so many of my friends and I were. I had one friend who had the idea to get rid of his brother by clothes-pinning him to his mom’s backyard clothesline. I found a photo from Historic Compilations reminding me of it.
Historic Compilations Photo accessed December 12, 2024
We were ‘boys being boys’ and creating something we never could envision how that might benefit us in our future. Through our rough and tumble lifestyles, we were learning how to make our lives better. We made each other better because we were physically and mentally stronger. Sure, we didn’t think of it that way, and maybe we had something more devious in mind, but our outdoor activities set us on track to a more capable level of success, mostly through the independence we enjoyed.
Even those younger brothers who were hanging out with us – who sometimes cried when we hung them on a clothesline – were better off burning that pent-up energy of pre-manhood. This way, we slowly but surely gained respect for the virtues needed to be a good young man. Our dads might give us advice, and that was useful, but the proper way to develop was to be in the game everyday with a group of good friends.
Some young boys might stray off the right path in life, but we had two things going for us that prevented us from spiraling off into chaos and criminality. First, there were the neighborhood’s husbands and wives who watched over us from a distance, always ready to step in and correct us if needed. Second, we developed a good conscience in the Sunday church pews, where we learned the basics of good versus evil.
And those two resources are largely absent now, in our “modern world” and may partly explain why so many kids today are screwed up emotionally, physically weak, and prone to disease and injuries. I’m glad that I grew up in a time when it was clear that godliness was the only path to take or the devil had you. And the devil we saw – when he took people into a drunken or drugged-up state and drove them to violence – drove a fear in us that made us avoid this kind of behavior.
Often, we got into trouble when we went too far – boys being boys – like pushing one of those little brothers into a lake and running off. Yeah, one of us should have stayed behind to check him out. We all could swim, but, better to ensure the young brother was okay. That’s how we learned the hard way. And those lessons remain with us today. We call it “responsibility” and you had it without anybody telling you.
So, when adults and young women tell boys to stop being boys, they need to rethink their strategies. This is how boys learn to be good men. Boys will be boys! And that’s okay.
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Great article, Gen. Satterfield.
As a mother of three boys, I can attest to the accuracy of allowing boys to do their thing, within common sense limits, of course. It is critical for their full development to be able to run around with a good set of friends and be outside the house. The worst thing a mother can do is to treat them like girls.
PW, you’re spot-on. Boys and girls are different and should be treated differently. A man/husband/male scout leader should be in their lives pushing and guiding them, setting clear limits, discipline, encouragement, duty, honor, and service. They need to tell boys that they are protectors of their families, communities, and nation. But that is not happening in America and these boys as teenagers are rebelling against the feminists we are making them into.
Well said.
Ah, thanks Gen. Satterfield for this article. I laughed at it, not because of you kids clothespinning one of the younger brothers to his mom’s clothesline. Kids today don’t even know what a clothespin or clothesline is. And, I find that funny in a way because technology has made it to where they are no longer necessary. Sir, please continue writing these articles from your days growing up. BTW, I loved your “Letters to My Granddaughter”:series, your longest and most entertaining. Now with you “Pre-Surge” series, I’m sure to appreciate that series too. Have a great and Merry Christmas in advance.
That’s some strong-ass clothespins.
Nice pix. Boy hanging by clothespins from his mom’s clothesline.
Yep, nice! 💯
Ha Ha Ha Ha . . . . . . . . . This is classic Gen. Satterfield. He is telling the story about his younger years but links that to his personality of caring, aggression, team leading, responsibility, and having “fun.” This kind of article I’d like to see more of. I also like the idea that Gen. Satterfield is a great American Patriot. That means alot to me. On the side, I’d like to note that I also purchased his books, both of them. If you can, get extra copies before Christmas and give them away as gifts. Those who receive them will appreciate you.
Gen. Satterfield as a boy just cruising with his buddies and doing boy things. But for us here, reading from years in the future, we can start to see those social activities that begin to influence the conscience of a little boy. Gen. S. Saying he felt “responsibility” to make sure that boy they pushed into the lake didn’t drown. This is a very early form of empathy. Most boys develop that latter in life, some not at all and even become criminals. In this case , not Gen. S.
This is exactly what makes this website so interesting. 👀
Yes! A place to read and learn and also this leadership forum helps us also learn or clarify the article. Early Merry Christmas to all here!!!!!!!!
🔔🎉🎅🎁🎄
Yepper, and here we are. Gen. Satterfield provides a variety of articles and thinking because he is driving us to also think and work through the reasoning that we must do to become better. That is why, I think, that so many of us are recommending his books, especially the one on 55 rules. Go there, to the links below his article, and get yourself his books. Do it for others if you don’t want to read them but go there and order his books. That is a good way to support what he does.
Got to say you’re right about these articles. I’ve not been reading Gen. Satterfield’s blog very long, but I’m hooked on them.
Yepper, and here we are. Gen. Satterfield provides a variety of articles and thinking because he is driving us to also think and work through the reasoning that we must do to become better. That is why, I think, that so many of us are recommending his books, especially the one on 55 rules. Go there, to the links below his article, and get yourself his books. Do it for others if you don’t want to read them but go there and order his books. That is a good way to support what he does.
A nice Friday morning funny classic Gen. S. blog post. 👀😳😃✌️🥸😍💯😇
These boys developing a conscience…….
“ Often, we got into trouble when we went too far – boys being boys – like pushing one of those little brothers into a lake and running off. Yeah, one of us should have stayed behind to check him out. We all could swim, but, better to ensure the young brother was okay. That’s how we learned the hard way. And those lessons remain with us today. We call it “responsibility” and you had it without anybody telling you.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield
Nearly fell outta my chair when I saw this picture. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Maureen, I believe most of us where a little positive shocked / sarc
This is the kind of great article you will find any day you read Gen. Satterfield’s blog.
Be sure to get “55 Rules for a Good Life” and enjoy learning about how to be a better person even if you think you are okay now. This is Gen. Satterfield’s book from 2022.
I got my copy of “55 rules for a good life” and read it three times. Each rad I get more and more fro it. Genius level advice. Old, proven and ancient but it works. Follow these 55/ rules and you will,live a great life.
EXACTLY