This blog is starting to get downright embarrassing…for me. There have been moments when I wonder why I share these personal moments of humility with others. Why not keep them private? Would it impact my ability to change?

I don’t think so. But as a colleague told me, I can’t stop now because she needs the entertainment. Instead of being remotely hurt that a friend would laugh at my expense, it reminded me very much of why I started blogging. I know how often I mess up on a daily basis. Self-awareness is really not an issue for me. I have no notion that I am perfect or close-to perfect. That’s laughable. But one day at work, while making a pot of coffee, I started day-dreaming.

Do you know what happens when you start day-dreaming and start the brewing cycle before you put the coffee pot in place? Yes, you end up with coffee all over the counter and floor-puddled around your feet-and you have no idea it’s happening until someone else walks into the break room and snaps you out of your reverie. This colleague made a comment to the effect of, “She does mess up!” Of course I do, crazy people! Come over to my house, take a look around, interview the husband, the child…and you will know that in spades.

Okay, back to the present. It’s downright embarrassing to so often learn basic lessons from my child, but if the basics were so easy, I guess we’d all get it right.

My husband and I got into a tiff yesterday. I call it a tiff. Lexi called it a fight, but Lexi and I left the house before the tiff was resolved. We had places to be. And she hammered that point all the way in the car. “Mommy, you and daddy had a fight. One of you should have apologized. You’d never let me walk away from a fight without apologizing, etc…” I get it. I get it, but sometimes, grown-ups have way too much pride to apologize and they need some time to humble themselves.

Within ten minutes, my husband and sent a text with a sweet apology. I responded with an equally sweet apology. See? Just a tiff, and it was over.
Later that night, my husband explained to Lexi that while we had had a fight, he had sent a text with an apology. Lexi was not okay with that. “Daddy, you shouldn’t have sent a text. You should have apologized face-to-face.” There are times when neither of comprehends the level to which our five-year-old pays listens, but then she says something so simply…right that we know she not only listens but comprehends.

“Now, mommy and daddy, apologize the right way and to each other.” Okay, here it goes.

Honey, I’m really sorry for earlier when you were trying to do something and I basically took over and told you that what you weren’t doing was right and that I had a better…

“So, mommy, you’re sorry for being bossy, right?”

Hahaha…yes, Lexi, that’s exactly what I was trying to say in too many words! Then it was my husband’s turn.

Nhung, I forgive you, and I am sorry for…
“Daddy, don’t look at me when you’re apologizing. Look at mommy. She’s the one you need to apologize to!”

That is why I always want to make an effort to eat dinner together as a family. I can’t imagine missing these moments of laughter, lessons, and yes, humility. I know that face-to-face apologies are the most ideal because it’s more personal and sends a message of sincerity. I'm pretty sure I've said this hundreds of times in the context of facilitating leadership workshops. See? The basics. I was okay with the “apology by text,” because the issue was a minor one, but Lexi is on to something. We love technology, but it doesn’t replace good ole-fashioned communication.

What do you think? Would you accept or send an apology by text?