“Parenting: Part 3…” It’s Okay to Apologise to Your Child!
This is the third episode of the 5-part miniseries, “Parenting: Navigating the Beautiful Chaos” in the Lynda: Rooted&Real podcast.
In ‘Parenting Part 3’, the focus is on the importance of apologising to your children. Lynda emphasises that it’s perfectly normal for parents to make mistakes, whether it’s raising their voices or shutting down emotionally.
Instead of pretending to be the flawless parent, acknowledging these missteps can actually foster a healthier relationship with your kids.
Parenting Part 3
Episode Transcript
A text version of the podcast episode with timestamps.
[00:00:18.09]This is Rooted&Real, and this is Lynda.
[00:00:21.69]We’ve been talking about ‘Parenting’.
[00:00:24.29]And today, there’s something
that I learned.
[00:00:30.77]‘It’s Okay to Apologise to Your Kids’.
[00:00:35.21]Okay, parent, you messed up today.
[00:00:38.13]You yelled, you snapped, you shut down.
[00:00:42.89]But guess what?
[00:00:44.41]That’s okay.
[00:00:46.41]Because it’s also okay
to apologise to your kids.
[00:00:51.97]You know, sometimes I think
apologising makes us weak.
[00:00:55.41]Like if we say, “I was wrong”,
our kids won’t respect us.
[00:00:59.85]So we pretend it didn’t happen.
[00:01:02.29]Buy them something instead.
[00:01:04.25]We act like that perfect
parent who never slips.
[00:01:08.65]But you know what?
[00:01:10.13]That’s teaching them that mistakes are
shameful and that repair
[00:01:15.65]isn’t part of love.
[00:01:19.33]Now, apologising to your kids
doesn’t make you less of a parent.
[00:01:24.77]It makes you more human.
[00:01:28.57]Something like, “I
yelled, and that wasn’t fair.
[00:01:32.21]I’m sorry.” You see, that sentence
teaches them accountability.
[00:01:38.33]It teaches them that people we love
can hurt us and then make it right.
[00:01:44.49]So you’re not apologising
for having boundaries.
[00:01:48.37]You are apologising
for how you handled it.
[00:01:52.85]Big difference.
[00:01:55.77]Again, I repeat,
your kids don’t need a perfect parent.
[00:02:00.97]They need a parent who shows them
what it looks like to own your stuff.
[00:02:07.49]Keep it simple, though.
[00:02:09.49]No excuses.
[00:02:11.53]“I’m sorry I spoke to you like that.
[00:02:13.69]I was frustrated, but that was
my job to handle, not yours.
[00:02:18.73]And I love you.” Then hug them.
[00:02:21.77]Then move on.
[00:02:23.57]You’re modelling the exact skill
you want them to have someday.
[00:02:30.85]So here it is.
[00:02:33.33]To every parent
who’s feeling guilty, listen here.
[00:02:41.01]Repair is stronger than perfection.
[00:02:45.25]Say the sorry.
[00:02:47.73]And then watch how this
heals for both of you.
03:10
Thu, 20 Aug, 2026
Transcript