I’ve learned over the years that criticizing others for how they approach the development of their home does not usually yield positive results.

Everyone seems to have their “own” way of doing things. Sadly, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Perhaps the biggest challenge exists when we do not recognize it is not working until it is too late.

Remember, children learn by observation, probably better than we do as adults. When children witness parents criticizing each other, other people, or the child, then they grow up believing that the standard for how to live in the home is critical in nature.

The result often leaves an atmosphere of competition, always striving to be better than someone else in order to avoid being criticized.

In order to prevent this from developing in our homes, we need to stop and think about what we say before we say it. We may need to apologize to our children for how we have criticized them or others in the past. Above all, we must strive to set a more positive tone for the future.