{"id":1062,"date":"2014-12-15T18:52:32","date_gmt":"2014-12-16T01:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nogreaterjoychildren.wordpress.com\/?p=1062"},"modified":"2016-01-11T14:43:42","modified_gmt":"2016-01-11T21:43:42","slug":"sorry-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.childhoodrevered.com\/sentient\/parenting\/2014\/12\/sorry-is\/","title":{"rendered":"Sorry Is…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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–\u00a0On Apology<\/a>\u00a0–<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
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\u201cOne of the most profound human interactions is the offering and accepting of apologies. Apologies have the power to heal humiliations<\/a> and grudges<\/a>, remove the desire for vengeance<\/a>, and generate forgiveness<\/a> on the part of the offended parties. For the offender they can diminish the fear<\/a> of retaliation and relieve the guilt<\/a> and shame<\/a> that can grip the mind with a persistence and tenacity that are hard to ignore. The result of that apology process, ideally, is the reconciliation and restoration of broken relationships<\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

We were discussing the frequency with which we hear parents directing their children to issue apologies when some social injustice has occurred. To many, it’s mandatory “good parenting” to require one’s child to utter an “I’m sorry” whenever it seems appropriate. \u00a0To me, however, requiring an apology of a child or another adult, that being an omission of responsibility\u00a0and existence\u00a0of remorse, falls into the category of damaging and simply continues a legacy of superficial disconnectedness. Empathy generates something quite beautiful, something quite genuine and far reaching. This is what we base our decision to not require, or even suggest our child offer an apology, regardless of the situation.<\/p>\n