There may be times when you’ll miss a big moment in your child’s life—moments like their championship game, their school play, or even their piano recital.
Whether missing these big moments is intentional or not, it still can damage your relationship with your child. And it’s not easy to make it up to them. That’s why we need to make every effort to be there and support our kids through their big moments. But when that doesn’t happen, here are 3 A’s to recover when you miss a moment with your child:
1. Be Aware
First, it’s important to be aware when you’ve messed up and hurt your child’s feelings. Unfortunately, this is one of those things that is easier said than done, since most of the time we have to be very tuned in to our child’s life to notice they’re upset. I encourage you to be on the lookout for times when your child gives you the cold shoulder or seems more distant in their conversations with you. These clues will alert you to when you’ve missed a moment.
2. Be Apologetic
There are two parts to being apologetic with your child. First, it means simply saying “I apologize for not being there. I know it was a big deal.” And be sure to do it as soon as you can. Second, being apologetic means making things right in your relationship. Start by having them fill you in on what happened. Ask pointed questions about what you missed. Ask to see pictures or videos. Taking an interest in your child’s big moment shows that you still care, even if you weren’t able to make it.
3. Be Active
Finally, be active in ensuring your child that you will be there for their next big moment. Fill them with confidence so they can trust you not to miss out on other big events in their life. Then be sure to be there!
When have you missed a moment in your child’s life? What did you do? Feel free to share your story in a comment below.
