Saying Sorry

Elton John co-wrote a song called “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word,” but for me that’s not always true.

In fact, I am not sure which surprises me more, how often I say “sorry” in a conversation, or how consistently Americans hear my Canadian accent when it comes out as “sore-y.” 

Yes, I seem to apologize quite frequently. I must admit, I have even apologized to inanimate objects that I have bumped into.

But sometimes, the bigger apologies are a little harder to choke out.

It is pretty sad that it can be easier to apologize to a chair than to the people we love! But there are times when we are too angry or too stubborn to see our errors and own up to them.

When those moments come and we mess up, oh the healing power that flows from saying, “I am sorry.” Before the words have even fallen from my lips, I feel my anger dissipating and peace rushing in to take its place.

As a mom, I make mistakes—lots of them! And when I do, the most important thing I can do for my children is to own up to my mistake. My kids need to see me model healthy behaviour.

When I’ve done something wrong, (say, overreacted loudly) I talk to my child about what I could have done differently and how my actions made them feel. By airing our difficulties calmly, we can both begin to heal, instead of letting anger and resentment fester.

I want my children to not only learn from their mistakes—I want them to learn sorry doesn’t have to be the hardest word!