The Happy Homemaker

There is a report says that over praising your can set them up for failure.

I had to laugh when I read this article because it made me think of this lady I saw a McDonald’s the other day. She had her two small children with her and she did everything by the book. Her kids ate apple slices in their kid’s meals with milk to drink. How healthy!! I wouldn’t notice except that she kept talking about it real loud. “Wow!! You are eating your apple slices!!! Real good and healthy!!! You are such a great eater!!! Wow!! Apple slices!!!”

She raised her voice like the books say too, except that I don’t think that the books say to raise your voice so high that dogs react to it. Her wonderful genius daughter build a tower of legos. Her mother cheered and clapped. That is such a BEEEEYOUTIFUL tower!!! WOOOOWWW!” Then she had her toddler son do baby sign language for all of the McDonald’s to see. “WWWOOOOWWW!! You did a great job doing your sign language! You are so smart!!”

Then I saw her again at the playground. I love this particular playground because it has a play area for babies and toddlers. I can let Aron and Jon Jon play without interfering too much. Supermom of course did not do that! She totally interfered. I questioned myself for a minute that maybe I wasn’t as much a supermom that she was but then I noticed something that changed my mind. Her children talked to her like she was another kid and bossed her around. They would not allow her a break.

I think some praise is good. I like to compliment my kids. They need to feel like they can accomplish things. I have seen people who go too far. I think they are setting up their child for disappointment. Challenging children is better. Though that can be taken too far as well. I guess the key is balance.

There is a saying, “be a best friend to your child when they are young, they will forget you when they are old.”