"You are defective... You shouldn't be feeling those feelings." There are a million ways to parent, and no one decision is going to "ruin" your child. But there are times in which we consistently send our child a message based on how we respond to the things they display to us. Those messages can be positive, but they can also be negative. Many child experts and psychologists now believe that people have different levels of sensitivity, and that this is something they carry with them from the time they are born into adulthood. For a parent that isn't sensitive, a sensitive child can be confusing, and sometimes maddening. The apparent need for validation and consistent navigation of emotions can feel exhausting and unnecessary. If you feel this way, that's okay. But consistently squashing your child for having the feelings they have will eventually deteriorate the relationship—at least in this area. If your child is sensitive and has emotions, they won't stop feeling them when they don't feel safe to bring them to you. They'll simply stop sharing. And I don't think that's a place any parent wants to be. Speaker: Dr. Aliza Pressman Source: You Learn This Too Late: Understanding This Will Change the Way You Look at Your Relationships | The Mel Robbins Podcast