APOLOGIZING
TO YOUR KIDS

Topics: Apology; Children; Family; Integrity; Mistakes; Respect

Reference: Ephesians 6:4

One day I found my son, four, trying to give his sister, two, a drink of water from his cup. Pam’s clothes were soaked, and I scolded my son for his carelessness. Later I realized the boy had been trying to share his water with his little sister. But because I spoke on impulse, his generosity earned him criticism.

“I’m sorry, Harry,” I told him. “I shouldn’t have scolded you when you were being so nice to share.” His look of relief told me I’d done the right thing.

No matter how much we love our children, we still make mistakes. Apologizing shows integrity and encourages our children to do the same when they make mistakes.

—Elsie Brunk, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” Christian Parenting Today (March–April 2000)