Children feel the burden of most parents’ expectations as well as their criticism.

It is important for parents to note that the more they expect of their child, the more they will regret. Children do not respond well to expectations from their parents. This holds true regardless of the parent’s intent or the caliber of the child.

Being critical of a child is not the same as teaching the child to think critically through the difficulties of life that will inevitably occur as they mature. Making these core distinctions to the child is necessary for the child’s baseline measurement of perception. If this is not made clear in early stages, the child can/will perceive helpful actions and criticisms in a way that most parents don’t intend.

Parents are responsible for what their children hear. It is incumbent on the parent to take full responsibility for the entire spectrum of a child’s outcomes. That includes the child’s successes as well as their dysfunctions resulting from missteps in raising the child. While no one side is to blame for anything in life, the parent must take the brunt of the blame for the child’s dysfunction if they plan on taking credit for the child’s success as well. One cannot take credit for accomplishments without taking equal credit for the failures that come along with all accomplished individuals.