Most excellent parenting! Kids often internalize over zealous praise as pressure. I was a "golden child" too. Eventually I couldn't take the pressure. I felt like my worth was totally tied to my grades. I finally said to hell with it and got pretty wild and then a pretty intense radical. It's so much better to just be loved warts and all. I make a point to tell my kids I will always love them, no matter what. My son quizzes me often: "What if I do X horrible thing? Will you still love me?" Yes, baby. Mama always loves you, but I'd probably be really mad if you did that.