Making Time.

I stumbled across this blog this morning:
20 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Kids

I have to say- it's one of the few "parenting" lists I whole heatedly agree with. While reading through it number 13 struck a chord with me especially.

"13. Saying I’m sorry. Because lets face it – I’m not perfect. I mess up. I make mistakes. So they need to hear me say I’m sorry and that I love them and that they’re important to me. So that means sometimes I will say I’m sorry."

I wonder how many of us forget we need to apologize to our children as well? Just last night as I was getting back home from a very long and honestly pretty rough day I stopped and apologized to Georgia. I had a lot on my mind all day long. Work has been hectic and honestly- some days just suck. I picked her up from ballet downtown. She wanted to eat there as we normally do but I felt as though I was loosing my mind and I needed to go get a work out in to clear my head. I bargained with her and we picked up food on the way. After the gym she kept trying to talk to me. My answers were one worded and short as my mind was full of other things haunting me. In the car on the way home from the gym she asked to listen to the "Frozen" soundtrack once again. "No, I just need 5 minutes". The car was quiet and she began to sing the songs from memory instead. Instead of rejoicing in her sweet voice I asked her to please stop. We arrived home and I began to make her another meal since she said she was still hungry.

In the midst of it all I knew I had been too short with her. I stopped what I was doing, walked into the living room, turned off the TV and bent down and talked with her. "I'm sorry Georgia. I'm sorry for being short with you and not answering all of your questions tonight. Sometimes Moms have tough days and today was one of those days but it has nothing to do with you. I love you and I'm sorry."

The kicker is my sweet girl whole heartedly loves and forgives me. Unconditional love. I truly understand now. Even though I don't deserve it I get a chance to be a better Mom today. Hopefully it's a life lesson for her as well- you will mess up, you will no do everything right but as long as you continue to try and realize when you have made a mistake I am pretty sure everything will end up okay.