Not sure if you're replying directly to me or in general....
I agree with what you said. For me, the "chicken" statement is really bad, and one that I would *never* say to any kid, my own or anyone else's. It conjures up all sorts of feelings I had as a kid of being different than the rest of my family, and in a bad way.
However, I realize that we're all different, so I'm allowing for the fact that some family members may be able to speak to one another like this and challenge each other and see it as a joke or a type of encouragement.
As a parent, it is my job to figure out my child's personality/temperament and then RESPECT it through my interactions with him.
