Today the family did lots of yard work.  We decided that we are on vacation this week.  That means a break from the regular routine.  We usually do this a couple of times per year to get all the yard and garden stuff done.

After we had worked for many hours the three younger children went off to play.  After a while, I heard my six year old daughter whining to her brother and sister that she wanted to play the game they were playing.  They had given her a No Answer.  Her brother and sister said, "Londyn, you are whining.  We can't talk to you when you act like that." 

I had to smile, because

A reader said that praising doesn't come naturally for her.  In fact, praising seems fake and annoying to this mother.  She asked:

 I don't want to be a cheerleader, always saying "Good job" no matter what---I want to say things that really matter, that I really believe, that are true.  I guess what makes it hard is when I know (or think I know) that I've taught them how to do something better than they have done it, or that they should be capable of doing some things without always having to be praised for it.  I know you said in your presentation that we could never give too much

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