“I’m Not Sorry I Did It”

We want our children to feel remorse. For some reason, we parents tend to think if we just hear them say that they are sorry, they will feel remorse and be less likely to do something in the future. Some parents even use the “say your sorry” as part of a disciplining process. When a child is able to end a time out, for example, she has to make apology to the wounded party. Inevitably, however, you are going to hear an outspoken and honest child announce, “But I’m NOT sorry I did it!” Then what? I have been blessed … Continue reading

Lessons in Apologies

I have never been the type of parent to force my kids to apologize regardless–as in “Say you’re sorry” whether they had come to the conclusion that they were actually sorry or not. Instead, I have preferred to try to help them see the other side of things and experience remorse on their own terms, then tried to give them ways to make amends and right some of those wrongs. Over the years, however, I have found there are a dozen ways to apologize (at least) and parenthood provides endless opportunities to learn lessons in apologies… While I was pretty … Continue reading