Have you had a moment where you did something and wish you could take it back?
It just happened with my last newsletter/blog post. I had written it a while ago and sent it off to the marketing support I use. While the blog was sent back to proof, I must have been more interested in the picture selected than the content of what was written.
A Moment Where You Did Something & Wish You Could Take It Back
So yesterday when the blog came through on Facebook, I tested it by clicking the link. Once I got to the page, I decided to re-read the post. What I realized as I read it was that it sounded different than I intended it.
Wow, how had I not caught that?!?
As I got to the second paragraph, I realized I made my mom sound like she was always complaining about my father. This is not true, they had a very healthy relationship. Of which, many of my friends would comment.
My dad did do stuff outside the house like softball, coaching basketball, singing/playing guitar, and on occasion grabbing a drink with friends. Yet, I felt I made it sound like he was always gone drinking.
The memories I was recalling were from when I was really little. So yes, at that time I don’t think my mom truly did do what she enjoyed. She was young and had two kids 15 months apart.
What I Realized
I did my mom a disservice by making it sound like she never had any hobbies or interests.
My mom walked the talk as my brother and I got a little older. We spent practically every Sunday with family friends. Kids would play, dads would have a game on and moms would make some sort of craft.
Yes, she did grow up in a time where women were funneled, and she, as a result, became a secretary. But it is noteworthy to share that she later returned to school to became a teacher. Then due to her love of reading, she continued her schooling to get a Masters as a librarian.
What I realized is that in my effort to give context to the “life lesson,” I skimmed over a lot of relevant information. more precisely, I worded it poorly so that it was misleading and potentially caused people to make inaccurate assumptions, which in turn could have/may have hurt my parents.
Since reading it yesterday, my brain as just been on fire, wondering how I could possibly mislead my audience like this.
So, I hope that this post helps right a wrong. And MOM and DAD if you read the first post, I am truly sorry, and I hope this faithful apology comes across sincere.
Do you have someone in your life who you need to say you’re sorry too? It is never too late!