Annie - It is so true that chldren pick up on stray comments,BUT I only think they do it when they are fundamentally insecure, and don't know how to 'please' or placate an emotinally absent or eratic parent.
What I am saying is that a remark like that to many children would just be something stored away, and thought about occasionally, or not. But to a troubled kid, they see [not consciously of course at the time]'Ah that is what I have to do to be loved, approved of, whatever . . .'
Does this make sense? Otherwise we have really screwed up all our kids with our dumb insensitive remarks.
