Jamie Otis Instagram – I started apologizing to my kids when I’m wrong. It started when Henley was about 3. I read somewhere about how we didn’t grow up with that type of behavior from our parents, but if we can change that for our kids, they will feel more respected and will likely listen to us better & feel more comfortable confiding in us when they’re going through hard times.🙏🏻❤️
I’ve been so overstimulated and just irrationally irritable lately. That’s not their fault, though.
So tonight after losing my tempter I said, “I’m so sorry for yelling at you like that!” I asked my kids if they’d forgive me and they hugged me and said sorry for being so loud.🥺🙏🏻❤️
At first it was odd apologizing to my kids when I was wrong.
It’s not something I’m used to. When I was growing up adults were always right and they never apologized. It just wasn’t the norm.
The norm when I was growing up was:
“You do as I say, not as I do”
“Come here and I’ll give you something to cry about”
“I don’t even see tears. You’re not even really crying”
“As long as you live under my roof, you’ll follow my rules”
I know that was just the cultural norm, but it didn’t feel good or loving as a kid.
How do we expect our kids to own up to mistakes if they don’t witness their parents doing the same?🤷♀️ Apologizing when wrong just makes sense to me now.💕
Any other millennial parents here trying to break cycles and “gentle parent”? Please share all your tips/best resources with me ⬇️🫶 | Posted on 13/Mar/2026 08:01:23
