Sometimes the responsibility of being a parent seems so enormous. Our kids are watching everything we do. And, although it would be nice to always be a good example--we're just human--and that means that we're not perfect.
I'm sure that, like me, you've had episodes that you would like to rewind and do over--sometimes more than one in a day. On more than one occassion, I have lost my cool in front of my kids or been caught saying something unkind about someone else. Often, I beat myself up when this happens and struggle with a guilty conscience. But over the years, I've learned through experience that I can use times like these to teach my kids valuable lessons about right and wrong and forgiveness.
Here are a couple of things that have helped me. . .
Although it's not always easy, it's a great time to remind our kids that everyone makes mistakes (even grown ups) and that your behavior wasn't appropriate.
Apologize for any outbursts, especially if it was directed at them.
Remind them that God wants us all to treat others with kindness--that applies to parents as well.
I've always found that my kids have been generous with their forgiveness and understanding of my faults.
I want them to grow up to be the kind of adults that easily admit their mistakes and take steps to correct their behavior. If that's going to happen, I need to be modeling it now.
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