Is your girl a chronic complainer? One moment she’s grumbling about her haircut and the next she’s griping about the weather. The more time you spend around her, the more you wonder if she’s ever happy.

Before you try to convince your daughter that “it’s not that bad,” take pause. Offering the suggestion that she might be overreacting will only send her into a complaining tailspin. Instead, offer sympathy and change the subject. Psychologists recognize that most chronic complainers are simply seeking emotional validation. After all, it’s easy to connect with people over a shared complaint.

For some families, sharing the highs and lows of your days at the dinner table might just open a can of worms for the chronic complainer. Consider sharing how you saw God working in your life that day.

Listen to the Raising Godly Girls Minute with Patti Garibay: