Praising children encourages them, but there's a right way and a wrong way of giving compliments. While some forms of praise help develop your child's self-esteem, others can turn a child into an arrogant, insecure person with a great fear of failure.

Check out some of the worst ways to praise your child, and how they can hurt rather than help:

1. "You are the most beautiful child there is"

No matter what label you use to praise your children (most beautiful, smartest, best, etc), comparing them to other children will create a deep competitive nature, and a need to always outdo others. Such people are usually arrogant. They have a hard time celebrating other's successes, and are jealous when they come across someone who may be considered "better."

2. "Congratulations, congratulations and congratulations"

The word is written three times, because it represents excess. Parents who congratulate a child over everything they've done create a need for constant recognition in the child. When his or her work or achievements are not recognized, it's extremely frustrating, and can make him feel angry or defeated.

3. Artificial praise

Many parents praise children half-heartedly - sometimes not even knowing what it is they are complimenting. For example, a child comes with a drawing, and a parent who's busy with other things says, "Beautiful," but doesn't actually look at the drawing. Children aren't stupid. They realize when praise is not from the heart.

4. Malicious praise

Another tactic commonly used by parents is to sneak teaching into praise. For example, "You are such a sweet girl, so don't fight with your brother." These types of phrases tend to be manipulative, as a child feels they must follow the "rule" that goes along with them. Praise should be spontaneous, and come when deserved.

5. "You're so clever"

This type of praise labels your child. When you constantly tell your little girl she's intelligent, it might imply she must always be intelligent. She feels she must never fail from being intelligent. She worries about taking risks, because the chance of failure is greater. Failure means she would lose her label of intelligence, which has become her identity. Rather than placing a label, try instead to praise effort. For example, when your child passes a test, say, "Wow! You studied so hard for that score. Congratulations!"

Experts point out that many parents praise without noticing. Other parents praise in order to raise self-esteem, or cheer their child up. Help your child's self-esteem by praising them in a way that's constructive, rather than destructive.

This article was adapted and translated from the original "Os 5 piores elogios que você pode dar ao seu filho," which was published on Familia.com.br.

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However, as time goes on, children are born, people age and some couples forget about the powerful emotions that originally brought them together. Despite everything that they have built together, their marriage begins to deteriorate, leaving it leaning precariously over the pit of extermination.

Here are some tips on how to finally end the suffering and push your marriage into that crevice of destruction instead of nurturing your relationship back to health.

1. Be intolerant of your spouse's imperfections

Your spouse isn't perfect, take advantage of that. Make sure things are the way you like. Be sure to tell her about the little things she does wrong and constantly remind her of the things that she can improve. When you do this, little by little, your partner will stop loving you and will eventually want to leave you.

2. Never listen to your spouse's opinion

Remember that your spouse's opinion is not important. Be sure to ask other people, like friends, family or even complete strangers for advice, rather than your husband. This will decrease communication between you, eating away at your relationship.

3. Put it off

If she asks you for some of your time, always give an excuse. "I'm busy, honey."� "I'm going to work."� "Football is on, I can't break away."� By doing this, you will decrease your value to her, eventually making her have no other choice but to leave you.

4. Be disloyal

Here is your winner. Very few marriages survive a disloyal partner, unless serious repenting occurs, some major effort is made and the mistake never happens again.

Besides these four ideas, here are a few more plans, without detail, that you can implement:

5. Never, ever, praise your partner or recognize the good in him.

6. Don't communicate.

7. Complain about everything, all the time.

8. Never caress or make her feel important.

9. Never let him caress you or make you feel important.

10. Talk bad about your spouse while she is around.

11. If communication were to happen, be sure to yell at him, rather than talk with him.

12. Always blame your spouse for everything.

The list can go on forever. All it takes is to pick a few and implement them into your daily life and "voila!" your marriage will end.

All satire set aside, marriage is an important and powerful union, and most times, the stresses of what seems to be a bad marriage are actually less than what will be felt after divorce. A marriage can only continue if both parties analyze and identify the biggest problems and make their best effort to fix them. Avoiding and solving the problems listed above, including other issues not identified, is the key to NOT destroying your marriage, and bringing back your healthy, vibrant relationship so desperately longed for.

Translated and adapted by David Hall from the original article "Como Estragar Completamente seu Casamento" by Marcia do Amaral Denardi Albuquerque.

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Despite the fact that the man is stronger physically than the woman, it doesn't mean that he doesn't need emotional support and affection.

The most effective way to have a happy marriage is to work things out together. Here are some important things a wife can do to make her husband happy and consequently cause a happier marriage.

1. Don't yell - talk

Unless your husband is deaf, don't yell. Try to always talk in a calm voice. Yelling deafens the heart. A husband will not have the desire or the need to listen to his wife's point of view when she is yelling or screaming.

2. Welcome him home with love

Some husbands are not welcomed home with love. His wife may already have some bone to pick with him when he gets home. No husband wants to come home after a tiring day of work and to a grumbling, whining, angry wife. When he arrives at home, welcome him with love and care. Ask him how his day went. Men love women who are loving and attentive.

3. The little things are best

Men like it better when you show your love in small ways rather than big grandiose ways. It doesn't cost anything to take a little extra time to make his favorite dessert or a special cake. A little romance can go a long way when he is feeling down.

4. Be Clear

Men are not as intuitive as women are, so you need to be very clear when you want something from him. Instead of saying, "Oh, I've heard that restaurant has good food,"� say, "Let's eat at that restaurant."� Typically men will understand the first sentence as a comment, not as a suggestion that you actually want to eat there. If you are clear in your intentions and what you say, you will avoid a lot of confusion and possible arguments.

5. Be attentive

Although it isn't normal for men to be very open, sometimes they need a shoulder to cry on. You need to be your husband's best friend, and always listen to his problems, without judging him or pointing fingers. Just listen, doing this will prevent him from suppressing bad feelings or worse, finding someone else to talk to.

6. Highlight his qualities

Try to always see his best qualities and not pay attention to his imperfections. Compliment him and always, always, always tell him that you like him and that you love him. When you make him happy, he will want to make you happy and compliment you too. Criticism will never, ever help you.

7. Do not be bossy or pushy

This is a relationship between the both of you. There isn't a need for one to boss the other around. Always try to be on the same page as your husband. When you want him to do something, be sweet about it and say, "Please."� Do it in a way that you think will make him want to do it for you. Do it in the way that he will most enjoy in doing it for you. Who do you want to be? A commanding general or the sweet, tender woman that he loves so much?

Translated and adapted by Taylor Richardson from the original article, "Como fazer seu esposo feliz."� By Marcia do Amaral Denardi Albuquerque.

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