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Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Children can often grow up experiencing insincere apologies.  We are often made, as children, to say sorry when we clearly do not mean it.  There is a disconnect between the emotion words we are made to say and our inner experiences of our actual emotions when this happens.  This can mean that we struggle to connect with the importance of, and skills required to give, true apologies. 

This approach can also be counterproductive for children when learning how to receive apologies appropriately.  It becomes hard for children to let go of their own hurt when someone says sorry to them because they have experienced making insincere apologies themselves.  They can feel disrespected because of a perception about a lack of true remorse.  This can encourage resentment and the development of grudges.