We come, not to praise our kids...

The folks at the U.S. Census Bureau count the population every 10 years. Of course, once that job is done, they don't just sit around twiddling their thumbs until it's time to start knocking on doors again. They collate data and give us a keen look at our lives just in case we're too busy to actually live a self-examined life.

One of the facts they have tumbled on to is this: About 72 percent of kids under 6 were praised by mom or dad three or more times per day, compared with 51 percent of children 6 to 11 years old and 37 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds. As anybody who's been in the parenting game as long as I have could tell you, there's no mystery here.

Everything a toddler does is cause for confetti and ticker tape. Little Johnny makes tinkle in the potty and its time for a parade. Try telling a sullen 15-year-old, "Hey, nice B.M. there, pal'' and see where it gets you. Actually, parents don't praise bathroom behavior in their teens as much as interrogate it: "What in God's name are you doing in there?''

There's no question that we parents could add to the number of times we praise our adolescents as long as we're willing to lower the bar: " Hey, son. Way to go only missing curfew by two hours.'' Or "I just want to tell you how much I appreciate only having to remind you eight times to take out the trash.'' And so on. We'll have our teens feeling wonderful about themselves in no time flat.