07/10/2025
Such an important post for parents. The repair after a mistake is crucial. Parents have to forgive themselves (self-compassion) and apologize to their kids if they have done wrong. Children are so great at forgiving and when parents move towards restoring, re-engaging, and rebuilding the relationship, this not only shows grace, but also builds trust.
A child gets one childhood. Just one.
Not a redo. Not a second shot. Just this one season where their nervous system is wiring up for life… and their heart is figuring out what love feels like.
That’s why how we show up right now matters so much.
Your child needs more than food, a roof, and clothes that mostly fit. They need to feel safe—not just physically but emotionally. They need to feel like they’re allowed to be who they are, even when that means they’re loud, messy, or have big feelings they don’t know how to manage yet.
When they feel seen, loved, and understood, that’s when they bloom.
That doesn’t mean we give in to everything. It means we lead with connection. It means we hold loving limits without shaming or yelling. It means we make space for their joy and their messiness.
When we offer consistent routines, like brushing teeth together every night or making pancakes on Saturdays, they start to feel the rhythm of safety. When we say, “I’m here,” and actually put down our phone and make eye contact, they start to believe they matter.
Play is another big one. Not just with toys but play that includes belly laughs on the floor, cardboard box forts, and made-up songs in the car. That’s where imagination grows. That’s where emotional healing happens.
And maybe most important when they see us repair after a mistake, when they hear us say, “I was frustrated earlier, and I’m sorry I snapped,” that’s when they learn grace.
We can’t get every moment right. But we can be intentional. We can show up with love, with presence, and with a deep respect for the one childhood they get.
Because even on the days that feel hard, what you’re doing matters.
