If you read my blog regularly or have read my book, you'll know that I’m not the worlds most perfect mum, in fact some days I feel like the worst mum out there! Patience is a struggle for me and I tend to let my own frustrations cloud my mood. Some days, actually at least once or twice each day, I lose my cool and get grumpy with the boys, whether it is warranted or not.
I know this isn't the way to handle things and I’m working on it. I know I’m not the only one who is not perfect in this area.
I think though, that when we mess up with our children, we need to be quick to ask them for forgiveness.
If we get cross and yell or say things we shouldn't say, punish too harshly, make errors in judgement or just generally mess up; we need to go (maybe wait for things to cool off a bit first) and apologise to our children and ask for their forgiveness, even telling them that we struggle sometimes and will work harder to maintain our cool is an appropriate conversation to have (make it age appropriate though).
Chatting with friends this week, they shared that if their parents had apologised for past mistakes it would go a long way in healing their fractured relationship.
When we speak about forgiveness we always think about what God did for us and maybe even the need to ask for or grant people forgiveness, but we forget about the children in our lives.
Children need to know that we are not perfect and that we make mistakes like they do. They also need for us to show them how to make things right so they can do the same when they do the wrong thing.
Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
If you mess up, tell your child and be sorry about it. In my experience, children are more gracious with their forgiving nature than most adults I know!
Blessings and love,
I know this isn't the way to handle things and I’m working on it. I know I’m not the only one who is not perfect in this area.
I think though, that when we mess up with our children, we need to be quick to ask them for forgiveness.
If we get cross and yell or say things we shouldn't say, punish too harshly, make errors in judgement or just generally mess up; we need to go (maybe wait for things to cool off a bit first) and apologise to our children and ask for their forgiveness, even telling them that we struggle sometimes and will work harder to maintain our cool is an appropriate conversation to have (make it age appropriate though).
Chatting with friends this week, they shared that if their parents had apologised for past mistakes it would go a long way in healing their fractured relationship.
When we speak about forgiveness we always think about what God did for us and maybe even the need to ask for or grant people forgiveness, but we forget about the children in our lives.
Children need to know that we are not perfect and that we make mistakes like they do. They also need for us to show them how to make things right so they can do the same when they do the wrong thing.
Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
If you mess up, tell your child and be sorry about it. In my experience, children are more gracious with their forgiving nature than most adults I know!
Blessings and love,
Great post Narelle.
I have always apologised to my children if I have been wrong with something I have said or done. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. We need to remember to forgive others as well.
I have an award for you if you would like to collect from my blog.
Tania