Parenting 101

Lesson 3: Family Time

Admitting Mistakes

It is so hard to admit our human frailties isn’t it? We all need to feel we are good and moral people, especially with our children. We want them to see us as perfect parents. But no one is perfect. We all make mistakes. Sharing this with our kids is often overlooked or avoided. What a shame this is! A child learns so much from us, yet we have a very difficult time with teaching them how to cope with mistakes.

What an invaluable lesson they could learn from us. By watching us admit and work through mistakes, we teach them that it is all part of growing into a valuable human being. We guide them through the process of self assessment and honesty, something too many adults have never gone through. Finally, the foundation of an ethical, moral being is being created.

I can remember so clearly the day I realized how crucial this was. Thoroughly upset with a close friend who continued to have the same problems over and over again, I embarked on a 10 minute tirade about her with my husband. Suddenly, I became aware of two very round pairs of eyes watching me. With a sinking sensation, I realized how ugly my behavior was. After calming down a bit, and taking a walk through my garden, I sat my boys down and admitted how ugly and selfishly I had behaved. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Cam asked me why I was so angry with her, he thought I loved her. I cried. Out of the mouth of a child came the obvious question. We all learned a lot that day. My children learned that sometimes, making the mistake is easier than admitting it. But in order to grow as a person, it has to be done.

Exercise: Write down as many positive things about yourself as you can. Then, write the negative aspects of your character. Have you ever shared these with your children?

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