When I work with adult children or their parents (or both), they typically report a variation of this scenario: My daughter calls me to complain about her job, and I try to give her advice, but she ...

There’s complaining. And then there’s complaining. In its more benign form, complaining between friends can feel beneficial. Light grousing about a mutual foe, for example, can cultivate camaraderie.

Complaining can foster camaraderie and establish common ground, but when it becomes excessive, it can annoy listeners and wreck relationships. There’s complaining. And then there’s complaining. In its ...