“Conditional love is love that is turned off and on....Some parents only show their love after a child has done something that pleases them. “I love you, honey, for cleaning your room!” Children who think they need to earn love become people pleasers, or perfectionists. Those who are raised on conditional love never really feel loved.”
—Louise Hart (20th century)
“Parents cannot expect advice to have the same force upon their children as experience has upon themselves.”
—Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)
“Answering questions can be a responsibility. Children think that their parents have all the answers. In the words of one child, children are “whyers” and parents “becausers.””
—Ruth Formanek (20th century)