BellaOnline Forums Family Adolescence Mistakes...how do you handle them?

One of the hardest things for a parent to do is to allow their child to make his or her own mistakes. My question is...how do you model behvior when you make a mistake?

one of the biggest things (and most frequent things) I do is to blow my top over little things. I suffer from migraines, and they tend to put me on a razor's edge as far as my moods go, so I will often yell at my kids for very minor things.

My parents have never once said "I'm sorry" to me in my whole life, and I am determined not to be that way with my kids. So as soon as I calm down I will tell them I am sorry for yelling an explain that it really wasn't their fault, but that I am oversensitive because I don't feel good.

I've also gotten to the point that I can feel myself getting "crabby" - so I will warn them, "I really don't feel good today, so give me some time to myself, because I don't think I'm going to be in a very good mood."

It has really helped a lot.

I know what you mean. My husband is currently deployed and as a single step-mom...I'm feeling pressure from multiple areas. During previous deployments, I was able to throw myself into my work...often spending 14-16 hours a day at the office. Now that I have another person in my life, that coping mechanism is no longer available. I've been gruff and crabby...but I have been able to apologize and explain my behavior...not to excuse it...but so my step-son understands where it came from. I think it helps.

I'm going through the same thing.....

Really...how are you handing it??

I am not one of those parents but one of a children. I admit that I really don't want it when someones's scolding me. I just like my parents to let me by myself learn of how did I get wrong with something I have done.