Walking the walk is harder than I thought

May 121 min read

Got really angry at another driver today and said some things I'm not proud of while my kids were in the car. Spent the rest of the day feeling awful about it because I'm supposed to be the example of Christ in our home and I completely failed. My 8yo even asked why daddy was being mean. I apologized to all of them that night and tried to explain that I'm not perfect and I mess up but God forgives us and we should forgive each other too. But man it made me realize how much they're watching and how my actions speak louder than any Bible verse I tell them. How do you guys handle it when you mess up in front of your kids?

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Comments(3)

RRob T.New DadMay 12

Yeah that guilt is real but honestly the good news is you recognize it. I've got three kids and I still lose my patience in traffic. What helps me is taking a breath and remembering they're watching everything. You're going to do better next time and that's what matters.

SSean M.New DadMay 12

Man, I've been there. Had a similar moment a few months ago at a red light and immediately felt terrible that my daughter heard me lose it. The fact that you're feeling bad about it means you care about the example you're setting. Maybe use it as a teaching moment? I told my kid that dads mess up too and we have to say sorry and do better next time.

JJakeNew DadMay 12

This hits hard. I grew up watching my dad handle frustration with grace and it stuck with me. It's not about being perfect, it's about showing your kids how to recover from messing up. Maybe apologize to them and explain what happened? Kids are more forgiving than we think.