How do you talk to your kids about why you mess up?

BradRegular

1w ago·1 min read

So I lost my temper with my oldest yesterday over a spilled juice box. I mean really went off. Later I realized I was being a jerk and apologized to him, explained that dads aren't perfect and we need Jesus just like everyone else. He seemed to accept it but I'm wondering if I'm doing this right. Do you guys just own your mistakes in front of your kids? I want them to see that being a Christian doesn't mean being perfect, but also that we work on being better. How do you balance that?

3 comments113 views

Comments(3)

CChris M.New Dad1w ago

The fact that you recognized it and are thinking about how to address it with your son says everything. Kids need to see that adults mess up too and that we work to do better. That's actually a huge lesson.

NNolan D.Regular1w ago

This is one of the hardest conversations but also one of the most important ones. I've been there and honestly admitting to my kids that I lost it and apologizing made us closer. Shows them accountability matters.

RRobertRegular1w ago

I've done the same thing over small stuff and felt terrible. The key is explaining that your reaction wasn't about them, it was about you, and then showing them you're working on being better. Kids are pretty forgiving when they see genuine effort.