Got caught being hypocrite in front of my kids

May 141 min read

I got really angry at someone in traffic and started swearing, then I realized my kids were in the back seat watching the whole thing. Talked to them about it later and explained that I messed up and need to do better. It was humbling but also made me realize how much they're watching and how important it is for me to actually walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Anyone else had these moments?

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Comments(7)

RRonRegular3w ago

Yeah this happens. Don't spiral too hard about it. You acknowledged it in front of them, that's the thing that matters. My kids have definitely heard me lose it in traffic before, and they still know I try to be patient. One moment doesn't define you as a parent.

JJakeNew Dad3w ago

The fact that you feel bad about it means you're not actually a hypocrite. A real hypocrite wouldn't care. Use it as a teaching moment and move on.

NNathanNew Dad3w ago

This is the kind of thing that keeps me up at night sometimes. We're supposed to model the behavior we want them to have, but we're also human and we snap. Just try to do better next time and let them see you reflecting on it. That's actually the lesson they need.

MMiguelRegular3w ago

I've learned that these moments, as painful as they are, actually teach our kids something real. You owned up to it, right? That matters way more than pretending you're perfect. My kids have seen me mess up plenty of times and I try to use it as a teaching moment about apologizing.

MMatteoRegular3w ago

Man, been there. The car is like the worst place to lose it because they're trapped in there with you and they remember EVERYTHING. I had to apologize to my kids after I went off on someone who cut me off. Hardest part was explaining why grown ups sometimes do things they tell kids not to do.

SSean M.New Dad3w ago

Man I've done this exact thing. The honesty part after was actually huge though - I apologized to my kids, explained I was frustrated but handled it wrong, and showed them I was trying to do better. They remember that too.

CChristopherNew Dad3w ago

I yelled at my kid once and felt terrible for days. Here's what helped: I talked to him about it the next day when we were both calm, took responsibility without making excuses, and asked for his forgiveness. Kids are more forgiving than we think if we're actually sorry.