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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think that, generally, when someone is regularly complaining about their life a good response is to ask them, with compassion and genuine curiosity, "What are you going to do to change/fix this situation?"  It can help break out of the cycle of complaining and focus them on making proactive changes.  Or, if they really just want to complain, it forces them to confront the fact that they actually don't want to change things, they just want to gripe. It might also bring to the surface ways that you might actually be able to help.
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I agree. Maybe add on some words of empathy first, like yeah I hear you, girl, there are a lot of people deepening in you now.

She may also need some praise, so be proactive with that about how she's an awesome mom and daughter next time you see her. It's not your job to part her on her back for work she's created for herself, but a good friend looks to see what your friend may need in the moment. She may feel underappreciated by her family (who doesn't?).
Then say "do you have any parenting book recommendations? I just read this amazing one called "the self driven child."

(It actually is a great book that helped me back off my kids and realize that they're better off in the long run if sometimes I'm less involved. There's also some YouTube talks by the authors if that's more your style. Or you can sub in "the blessing of a skinned knee," another good one, maybe better for parents of younger children than the self driven child. Teaches why being a helicopter parent trying to do everything is not in your kids' best interests.)[/quote]

Loved both “blessings of a skinned knee” and “self-driven child.”    They should send you home from the hospital with them. [/quote]

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