Saying Sorry: Fundamental To Every Family

Saying sorry is something that children learn from their parents. But not all families are good at asking for forgiveness when the situation calls for it. However, when we make a mistake, even as parents, it is important that we admit it. We often forget that this is the kind of foundation that builds the strongest, happiest, most respectful bonds.

One thing many families don’t pay enough attention to is communication styles. Often we are unaware of the sheer number of codes, invisible commands, and psychological signs that we project onto our loved ones. What we do, say, or even ‘don’t say,’ says a lot, though.

Does the way we relate to each other plant the roots of harmony or sow the seeds of unhappiness in our most intimate relationships? This is a question well worth thinking about. It doesn’t matter what your family dynamics are, we all make mistakes and all “need” to ask for forgiveness. And to see when saying ‘sorry’ is appropriate, we need emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is a healthy, inspiring tool that is also incredibly important for raising and guiding your children. It’s a great way to give your kids a value system that teaches them to have an intimate view of people, that teaches them to accept that we all make mistakes. But it also means knowing how to ask for forgiveness to make amends for what you did wrong, to maintain all your tires…

Saying sorry is a fundamental part of our society

We all make mistakes. We all make mistakes sometimes, we all make misunderstandings and we all mess up. No one on Earth is immune from this. Therefore, when it comes to raising children, no one can avoid mistakes, inappropriate practices, wrong attention, neglect, etc. And it doesn’t matter if we make more or fewer mistakes than our children. What matters is that we handle these situations appropriately after they arise.

Recognizing that you made a mistake, taking responsibility for it and saying ‘sorry’ to your child will teach your child something valuable. However, our adult ‘culture’ does not always approve of this and this does not make it easy. It’s as if parents themselves are afraid to break their perfect image in the eyes of their children. We are constantly teaching our children to apologize, so how can we as parents say sorry?

Do we not then lose our authority? Do they still take us seriously?

This is what many parents think. Fathers do it when they make big promises to their children that they end up breaking. Mothers do it when they yell at their child for the slightest thing, because their work causes enough problems and they just can’t bear to deal with annoying children as well.

However, saying sorry is a basic part of living together. It is the right course to take when a problem arises that you are responsible for as an adult. And there are few deeds that sum up this expression. By saying ‘sorry’ we show an enormous amount of empathy and recognition for social rules. Ultimately, however big or small, these are rules we must all follow for the good of all.

Learning to be a family

Many of us say sorry every day for the smallest things. We do it when we bump into someone, when we forget to stand up for people on the bus, when we forget to bring that book for our classmate or colleague… If it’s important to say sorry for the smallest things, then it is absolutely necessary to say it to the people closest to us. The people we love the most.

In addition, when we say sorry to our loved ones, we can be sure that they will forgive us. Simply because we are important to each other. Love, affection and caring are things we need to work on. Learning to say “sorry” is what makes a family. It creates a space where you can raise happy children with the right values. Now let’s take a look at the main benefits.

Asking your children for forgiveness: a step forward with huge benefits

• Saying sorry to your kids will help you focus better in your daily life. Being aware that you are not perfect as a parent and yet manage to weather that daily whirlwind will help you stay more in the present. You will be more attuned to your child’s needs.
• It is also important to understand one thing: asking a child for forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it shows maturity and responsibility.
• In addition, acknowledging that you made a mistake with your children will prevent the situation from getting more complicated. By not admitting your mistakes, your children could gradually lose faith in you.

• In any relationship where the adults are able to say “sorry” and ask their children for forgiveness, there are wonderful lessons for both parent and child to learn. We are not perfect just because we are older. Mistakes are part of our DNA. Making mistakes is also a great way to improve as a person.

Finally, one thing every family needs to understand—if they want to bring about happiness and harmony—is that saying sorry is a psychological skill that is good for everyone. So don’t be afraid. Don’t look back and say sorry if you need to. You will see that it will provide you with an invaluable new opportunity, namely the chance to get to know yourself better.