Is it common for parents to be somewhat critical and negative? I don't mean anything serious or deeply hurtful, but constant little things that don't exactly boost your self-esteem? As a kid, I sort of just accepted that I wasn't exactly a wonderful person. As an adult visiting my parents, I find myself objecting to their remarks, only to get told that I'm being too sensitive. They prod my insecurities—insecurities I suspect they actually gave me in the first place, thus my hostility.