How many times as a parent do you blow it? Or if you’re like me, how many times an hour do you mess up? How many times do you rant, rage blow up at your kid or say or do the wrong thing? If you’re anything like me, it could be hourly. The thing they don’t tell you about parenting before it’s too late and you’re already into it is how hard it is.
In fact, parenting is probably one of the hardest things you’ll do. You have to try not to strangle your kids for throwing a fit. Then you have to try to not yell at them for talking loudly about the color and size of their poop while eating out with friends.
Read: 3 Proven Phrases To Avoid Mealtime Battles
Here’s the secret
However, there is hope. The secret is, you don’t have to be perfect, you don’t have to always say the right thing and you don’t have to always do the right thing. For me, that’s good news.
You don’t have to be a perfect parent. Just own up to your mistakes and be real with your kids.
With kids, there’s always room for a reset. As a parent, you can always make adjustments and do things better the next time. That’s good news as a parent. You don’t always have to have to do the right thing…just own up to it when you mess up.
And that’s why I’m not afraid to say I’m sorry, and I do, like hundreds of times a day. I sit down with my toddler, look them in the eyes and tell them, mommy is sorry. I own up to the fact that I didn’t handle the situation the right way. I acknowledge that I got mad and yelled at them and what I did wasn’t nice. Then I say four powerful words: Can you forgive me?
Apologizing to Your Kids Might Sound Crazy, BUT…
The idea of apologizing to your kids might sound a bit crazy, but I feel like it’s powerful. I know I can’t always say or do the right thing and be a good example to my kids all the time. However, if I realize that I’ve said something unkind or handled a situation badly out of anger, I admit it.
I try to reset. My kids are always ready to forgive. I get sweet little hugs after my apology. And every once in awhile I hear the older child apologize to the younger. The other day he ran into her accidentally and I heard him say sorry. What an awesome skill to learn. We don’t have to be perfect to raise kids that are kind and loving. We can mess up, own up to it and teach our kids another powerful lesson, to apologize.
Mistakes can be made but if we own up to them we can receive forgiveness and move on, and try to do it better the next time. So if you haven’t, give an apology a try. You might be surprised how your kids respond.
The Benefits of Apology
Yesterday, my three-year-old apologized to me. I was shocked.
Mommy, I’m sorry I didn’t pick up my toys – Three-year-old
After hearing those words, I stood there dumbfounded. I’m sure my mouth was hanging open in shock. My preschooler has heard me apologize for doing the wrong thing so many times that he offered me an apology when he messed up.
I gave him the biggest hug and told him I loved him. In moments like these, I’m so thankful I’ve owned up to my mistakes in the past and apologized. I see the fruit daily in my kids, how they respond to each other and how we as a family treat others.
So if you haven’t, begin adding the apology to your parenting toolbelt. And let me know how your kids respond!
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