Sounds Like A Learned Trait

I was meeting with my therapist the other day. Yes, I know, lots of my story begin with “I was meeting with my therapist.” Anyway, we were discussing my teenagers, and I mentioned how I try to tell them about different ways they should be confident in their abilities, and they shoot them down. They argue with me, or pull that “you have to say that because you’re my dad” line. 

“I don’t understand why they won’t believe me,” I said. “I’m speaking the truth.” 

I was on zoom. My therapist thought for a moment, then he said something I didn’t expect. He said “to be perfectly candid, Clint. This sounds like a learned trait.”