Hi, I'm Dr. Ellen Hendrickson, and this is episode 15 of the savvy psychologist.

I'll help you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment. We'll use the best of psychology

to help you be happy, healthy, and most importantly, yourself.

Last Sunday, I was at my local drugstore looking at birthday cards for my dad and sister-in-law. Both my boys were with me, my two-year-old in a carrier on my back, and my five-year-old systematically

working his way through all the cards that play tinny electronic music when opened.

About ten feet from us was another parent-son pair. The sum was tall, but clearly young, maybe

13, probably just coming off an early teen growth spurt. And this is what I heard.

Son, I found when she might like.

Dad, withering sarcasm, not looking at the sun.

Congratulations.

Son, do you think she'd like it?

Dad, angry, almost spitting.

Can't you figure that out?

Don't ask me stupid questions.

Son.

What about this one?

Dad, ripping it from his son's hand.

For whom, if you'd focus what you haven't done yet today, we'd have been done with this a long

time ago.

And something about the way he stressed whom made me think they just had a what are you stupid

conversation about grammar. son for Tina she'll be seven dad well whoop do you do

son don't put it back, don't put it back.

...