Annie is off this week. This column first appeared in 2021. Dear Annie: A few months ago, someone wrote to you about how uncomfortable the bad manners of children of a relative made her feel at ...

When you respond in a way that makes you cringe the second the words have passed your lips: You are still good inside. There’s bad behavior. There are poor decisions.

But watch for good behavior from them, and compliment them immediately if and when it occurs. Attention-seeking in bad ways should not be rewarded. -- 81 Years Wise.

Reinforcing good behavior helps establish a culture where positive actions are celebrated. Don’t let bad behavior fester until it’s impossible to manage.