“But the hearts of small children are delicate organs. A cruel beginning in this world can twist them into curious shapes. The heart of a hurt child can shrink so that forever afterward it is hard and pitted as the seed of a peach. Or again, the heart of such a child may fester and swell until it is a misery to carry within the body, easily chafed and hurt by the most ordinary things. This last is what happened to Henry Macy, who is so opposite to his brother, is the kindest and gentlest man in town. He lends his wages to those who are unfortunate and in the old days he used to care for the children whose parents were at the café on Saturday night. But he is a shy man, and he has the look of one who has a swollen heart and suffers. Marvin Macy, however, grew to be bold and fearless and cruel. His heart turned tough as the horns of Satan, and until the time when he loved Miss Amelia he brought to his brother and the good woman who raised him nothing but shame and trouble.” Carson McCullers The Ballad of Sad Café
When you work in the educational system as well you see this to be sad and true. I have heard parents speak somewhat casually at times about how their children are weathering the marriage break-up or other traumas, rather oblivious to the incredible emotional pain of little children which may be hard to see on the surface. Their hearts are delicate organs. Children need safe and loving homes, maybe less stuff and more love, time and attention, and they need safe and loving school communities as well.