Appropriate Response - San Diego,CA

Cool kids don't stay cool unless they are brought up in a healthy and positive manner. So in a sense you did guide her to be who she is. So "Thank You" is appropriate.

It depends what it's for. If it's something that she did, like "she's very polite," I say thank you. If it's something more general like "she's a cutie" I say something a little more casual, like "I'm pretty fond of her." I feel like you can never go wrong with thank you, though.

Whenever someone says something about my children, I always respond with "I know! I think so too!". Some people may think this is rude, but I can't help it. I have to agree with them! I love my kiddos!

I used to say, "Thanks! I made her myself!"

They are paying you a compliment - the appropriate thing to do would be to say thank you, just like you would for any compliment. That's just common sense manners. So of course they look at you like you should say more - like, maybe, "Thank you!" You could also maybe add that you are very proud of her.

Remember too that your daughter needs to learn that it is always good manners to say thank you when someone pays you a compliment and children need to learn these things by modeling the behavior of their parents and other adults around them.

I agree...just say thanks. And maybe add "We're renewing her contract for another year!"

I usually say "Thanks! That's so nice of you to say!". She may have come out cool, but it's YOUR nurturing that's played a big part in KEEPING her that way. It's ok to acknowledge that by thanking people.

I think a simple thank you works......you are not necessarily thanking the person on your daughter's behalf but sort of thanking them for telling you something so nice about your daughter.

I say "thank you, I made her from scratch!"

"Thank you. We have been blessed." would be a polite reply without seeming to be taking credit for your daughter's awesomeness.

We often say, "Thank you. We think he's a keeper." Which I imagine some people might take as being flippant about their compliment.

BTW -- Certainly your daughter was born with a set amount of natural awesomeness. But do not sell yourself short. You are adding to it every day, every year

When anyone compliments us on our son I tell them
"He makes us very proud!".

I usually say "Thank you," as well. However, as my kids get older and understand what's being said about but not to them, my response will vary based on what they are specifically praised for. Already, a lot of people tell me how smart my son is, and it kind of irks me. I find that I usually deflect this particular compliment. I've been called "smart" my whole life, and, honestly, it's a lot to live up to. I don't want to burden my children with that or any other label. I try to praise my children for their actions and effort rather than inherent characteristics (e.g., "You have been really practicing your numbers!" versus "You're so smart!" or "I like the sweater you chose!" versus "You are so handsome!"). They can't help the traits they were born with, but they can control their actions and behavior. And, as a parent, encouraging positive behavior is a primary reason to praise them in the first place.

"Oh, thats so nice of you to say"

I always say a very gracious thank you with a smile.

One of my sons was adopted and when people would tell me he was cute, I struggled at first (since I had NOTHING to do with his unbearable cuteness), but now I say "thank you" to ANY compliment regarding ANY of my sons.

Why? Well, because I say "thank you" to compliments, THEY say "thank you" to compliments.

I get a lot of praise for my first son! Isn't it great!?
I say, "Thanks!! Phew...I did one of 'em right!" usually get chuckles.

Maybe they're waiting for your secret? Ha!

This is a weird one, isn't it? Especially when Kiddo is present. People feel very comfortable talking (more or less judgmentally) about children in front of them. I think it depends on the comment and who it is coming from. When people (who don't know us, usually) pour on the "oh, he's such a good boy" I often say 'of course he is' or "yeah, we like him a lot" or something of that nature. We also get a lot of appearance-oriented comments (weirder, to me...but the general consensus is that my son is pretty gosh darn cute). Sometimes I'll reply with "oh, he gets those good looks from his daddy" or "He's the spitting image of his great grandfather" (which he is). I'm not being a stick in the mud, it's just that I don't think it's particularly helpful for kids to have to even think about appearances or approval from strangers. Or judgments. "Being cool?" Kids don't need to concern themselves with that concept; they'll be bludgeoned with it come school-time.

When it comes to people who do know us, I might gush a little more, but it still depends on who I'm talking to. A dear friend?-- heck, I'm right there with her, and she's also heard about what sort of challenges I've faced parenting that terrifically cute kid. I have some family members who are severly appearance-oriented, and so that can be a weird place to go with them, because their attitudes aren't so healthy in that area.

For the most part, though, the people in my son's world (those usual faces he knows from the places we go) would rather talk *with* him than about him. He's got so many questions about other people, about the things around him, that he's already pretty much directed the conversation. So when *these* people tell me he's cool, it's easy to agree. "Yeah, he kinda is!"

You could say "Thank you for noticing".

I usually say "Thanks, I think she's great too!" :) That seems like the most appropriate response to me.

Thank you is a perfect response. =) I've said thank you before when someone complimented someone else in my family. I was thinking "Is that the right response?" but went with it anyway. LOL

I always feel a little akward- because people do look at me like I should say more- but I usually say-- thank you, we think he is really special. Or thats a really nice compliment. Thank you.

M

I simply say "Oh, that's so kind of you to say!"

"Thank you for the compliment" is a nice thing to say and models gracious behavior to your child. She will learn to accept compliments gracefully :)

Hello, I like to say, "That's so nice of you to say that. We are very proud of _________." It is acknowledging their response without taking ownership for the behavior. However, we do have the right to be proud of how we have raised our children and therefore the good things they have picked up.
Good luck with your precious child.
K. K.

Hi... I have this happen pretty regularly, as well. It's wonderful, but can make you feel a bit uncomfortable. I usually say something along the lines of, "thanks, but she did it all on her own"... or "thanks! I don't know where she gets it from"... or sometimes just a simple "thank you". I know.. it's odd, because our children are their own people and many of their traits and accomplishments are achieved on their own, because of the wonderful people they are on their own.

It's lovely you have a child that people see something in them to praise you for it. Whatever you and she are doing is working!

:)

thank you is the polite response. if it makes you feel better, just add to it, "i didn't have much to do with it, she came out amazing!"

I always say thank you.

I usually say something like, "yeah, isn't he/she?"

Truth is, I've done a pretty good job, but a lot or most of who they are has nothing to do with me - it's an accident of nature, and they are their own people. So I don't feel the need to thank anyone for the compliment. But I guess you could say "thanks" as well to be socially gracious.

p.s. - On a somewhat unrelated note - the article Peg cites and posted a link to is an AMAZING article -- I read it per her recommendation years ago and it really opened my eyes. I was guilty of overpraising my oldest, and suffered the consequences. ALL PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD READ Peg M.'s article (link posted below).

I always just smiled and said thanks. My kid was cool, too, and so is my grandkid.

But this reminds me about a recent article on "The Power (and Peril) of Praising Your Kids" from New York Magazine. It's a worthwhile read – you can actually demotivate kids by complimenting them. Read this, and talk it over with your friends!

http://nymag.com/news/features/27840/

You say "thank you". She is her own person, but you helped her get there.