Everybody makes mistakes, but it’s those who step up and take responsibility for them who earn respect.
In my opinion, this is one of the most important lessons a parent can teach. So it’s discouraging when I see the younger generation — especially teens and twenty-somethings — refuse to admit to mistakes, much less take responsibility for them.
Granted, I apologize way too much, for things that aren’t even my fault. But it bothers me when I notice young people having a hard time using the phrase “I’m sorry.” I’ve seen it in a lot of different situations and no, I’m not generally referring to my own children here. Sure, there are times when they need to apologize and they don’t, but I wouldn’t consider them among the worst offenders.
So what does a refusal to apologize mean? Are they afraid of something? Being judged; having an authority figure be angry with them; that mistakes make them failures?
I’m not sure, but I hope it’s a habit that’s outgrown.
