It was our anniversary, and there we were—my partner and I—frozen in a standoff. I couldn’t even recall what sparked the argument, but the tension was palpable, with both of us nursing our coffee mugs across the kitchen table. We were both feeling remorseful and ready to apologize, but the question loomed: who would break the silence first?
“I’m sorry,” he finally said, taking my hand in his. In that instant, I could see the burden lift from his shoulders.
“I’m sorry too,” I replied, feeling a twinge of guilt for having waited. With those two simple words, we cleared the air and moved on with our day, feeling so much lighter than we had the night before.
Later that evening, we indulged in our annual tradition of watching the video from our rehearsal dinner. We couldn’t help but smile as my late grandfather stood up to give his toast. Everyone anticipated profound wisdom, but instead, he leaned into the microphone and exclaimed, “Sorry, honey!” The room erupted in laughter; it was a joke that resonated because it held truth: no relationship can flourish without genuine apologies.
Fast forward eleven years, and I can testify to the wisdom my grandfather shared. As a mother, I’ve realized that the same stubbornness that surfaces during marital spats rears its head in parenting too. I entered motherhood with noble intentions, hoping to embody the spirit of a calm and collected Mary Poppins. But when you have one toddler declaring you the “worst mom ever” and another making a beeline through the kitchen, leaving chaos in her wake, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Add in sleepless nights, and let’s just say: mama makes mistakes. A lot of them.
Despite the occasional mayhem, my children are still human beings deserving of respect and kindness—just like anyone else. Respect isn’t something you earn as you grow older; it’s a fundamental right everyone has, even our little mischief-makers.
Surprisingly, some adults, particularly from older generations, seem to think that apologizing to children is a sign of weakness. They worry that saying “sorry” might undermine their authority, as if admitting a mistake could diminish respect. But can I ask you this: when has an apology ever made you think less of someone?
When my partner reached across the table and apologized, my respect for him soared. Mistakes are part of being human, and the best way to teach our children how to handle them is by modeling the behavior ourselves. An apology reflects strength, not weakness. Humility earns respect, not the other way around.
So, let’s channel my grandfather’s wisdom. Want to know the secret to a meaningful relationship with your kids? Grabs mic Just say you’re sorry.
Our children deserve the same respect we offer to adults, and that includes the act of apologizing. The only way we can instill kindness in them is to demonstrate kindness ourselves.
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In summary, respecting our children through sincere apologies fosters a nurturing environment that strengthens our relationships with them.