My Piece: Have I Over Praised My Children?

By David N. Britt
dbritt@potomaclocal.com

Serious it is.  Encouragement from parents, our children do not accept.  Ask I must.  Why?

Speaks to me does Yoda wise man from Star Wars, sounding like the voice of my GPS (shocker), so think like him, sometimes I do.

OK, enough with this nonsense: I have a serious question, for which I humbly apologize.

When I was a child (I know, that was many years ago) I used to revel in the praise I would occasionally receive from my parents—especially my dad.

I would bust my hump just for the chance to hear mom or dad say, “good job.” or, “I’m proud of you.”

But, there seems to be a disconnect between now and when I was a kid, and it’s clear times may have changed.

Those of you who are my Facebook friends know how much joy and pride I have in my wife and kids.

(BTW, I’m more than willing to accept more friends, just let me know, you’re a PotomacLocal.com viewer in your friend request and I’ll welcome you.)

Hope, my wife, seems to be able to accept my appreciation of her.  But, my kids don’t seem to be able to.  They have this, ‘You’re my Dad—you have to say that’ thing going on.

Maybe I’ve been too open and my pride and praise have been too much.  I don’t know.

I’ve got three incredible kids, and each of them has talents, abilities and character for which I am justifiably proud, pleased and excited.

Yet, when I try to tell them how proud, pleased and excited I am for and of them, it gets discounted.  “You’re my Dad, you have to say that,” they say.

Well, dang it!  Yes, I am their Dad. But, I don’t have to say anything!

In fact, I only say something when I feel it’s deserved and/or justified.

So, maybe I’ve screwed up through all these years.  Maybe I’ve been too profligate with praise and pride.

What I do know is that I’d absolutely love it if my children would accept my pride in them and praise for them gracefully and not just discount and say, ‘I’m their dad, and I have to say that.’

Help me out here.  Am I wrong?  If so, how?  Please let me know.  There’s a comment field right below for you to respond.

Well, that’s my piece, and I don’t know whether I’m stickin’ to it, or not.