Is it too late now to say sorry? No, that’s not just a line from one of my favorite Justin Bieber songs. It’s a question many of us probably find ourselves asking at some point. I believe the answer is no—it’s never too late for an apology, especially when it comes to your children. Even if you have a reason to be upset, even if they’re older now, even if the relationship is strained, it’s not too late to say sorry for your mess ups. I say it almost every day.
Parenting is one one the hardest things to do on the planet, and I’m still just getting started. How can we ever get it all right? Parents often expect themselves to be perfect. Why? We don’t expect our kids to be perfect. Sometimes, we need to extend ourselves the same patience and understanding we give them.
So yes, we mess up, say things we don’t mean and miss important events. As terrible as it is, sometimes, we hurt our kids feelings … and we need to say sorry when we do. In doing so, we teach our kids to do the same as well as how to forgive. Saying sorry and taking accountability when you’re in the wrong, helps you build a stronger family—a family that lets each other be human and fallible.
When interviewed, many teenagers said that the No. 1 thing they wanted from their parents was just for them to admit when they’re wrong. As my almost 10-year-old likes to act like a teenager already, I’m taking note. The parent-child relationship is just that, a relationship. While it may not look like every other one in our lives, it still needs to be built on trust, and we can’t truly trust people who don’t hold themselves accountable when they do something wrong.
Being open and honest when you mess up will strengthen your bond with your child. While you may be worried it could compromise your authority, the thing that actually is damaging your relationship is when you avoid apologizing. A strong relationship between parents and children is one where both can admit when they are wrong, apologize and forgive. That’s something I’m so grateful to my parents for doing with my siblings and me.
So I’m practicing saying sorry when I’m wrong and hoping my kids will grow up to do the same. As parents, we’re always growing and learning, and this is my lesson for this month.
Katelyn Young is a local mom of three (her #crumblycrew) who shares real moments of motherhood as it relates to fashion, food and fun! Follow her on Instagram @_katelynyoung_ or follow her blog at thebejuledlife.com.