Cryanoak---interesting point of view! I can certainly appreciate your dilemma...
Maybe, just say "Congratulations"...."You did this" or "You did that"....and never utter the word "I" or "Proud"......just use "You" and describe their achievement.....?
I dunno.....I'm just spitballing, here.....
I, personally, love I t when my loved ones are proud of me!....and I am a female lion...lol.....