When Did You Last Apologize to Your Children?

Have you found yourself becoming more irritable than normal lately with your family members? Is cabin fever setting in? Are you struggling with your new role of home school teacher even though you never had the inclination nor the training to take that on?

This strange time adds unexpected burdens to everyone in the family. It is only natural that it would be more difficult to maintain patience, a kind tone, and a gentle touch with one another. When disconnection happens, how do you handle it? Might you give a sharp retort, have an edge to your voice, or maybe even yell at your kids? You certainly aren’t alone in that. Perhaps you tend more toward shutting down, avoidance, and withdrawal? All of us are susceptible to give one another less than our best particularly in these unusual times.

The most important question is: Do you admit your mistake to your children afterward and ask for forgiveness? As simple as it sounds to do so, few of us follow up in this way. And yet, it is the key to repairing the rupture that occurs with the aforementioned reactions. An apology brings an infusion of grace into our homes. It gives our children a model to follow. Most parents teach their children to confess and apologize, but fewer parents live out that advice themselves on a regular basis. You might say something along these lines, “I had a sharp tone with you this morning. I want to apologize to you. How did my tone affect you? Would you please forgive me?” Try it, and notice how it draws your children close to you.