What do you do when your child does a mistake and knows it?

Hi everyone, I m back with another anecdote of my life that just happened this morning, and I couldn't stop myself from Sharing it with all of you, because this taught me something important too.

So, this morning my husband left early for work, around 8:15am. I bathed my daughter, made her have milk and breakfast, got her ready for school and went down to wait for the school vehicle that is her mode of transportation to and fro her school.

Like everyday, she was extremely chirpy and active (she loves to go to school). I was exhausted.. (what else do you expect from a 32 weeks pregnant woman). I just sat outside our building, on the raised pathway, she sitting beside me, and took out my specs just to clean them up a bit.
I had my phone and house keys in my hand, which I kept aside for the time I was wiping my spectacle glasses. It took me hardly 3-4 seconds to do so, and as I turned to her, I found she is sitting abnormally quiet, somewhat horrified and prepared for a storm. And suddenly I see the keys missing.

"Where are the keys? What did you do?"

She didn't say anything.

It didn't take me long to realise that my daughter had dropped the keys into the vent hole, on the pathway where we were sitting. And there it was, unreachable by all means.

"What the h#@&!! (I avoid using bad words infront of her, but I suddenly got panicked)"

"Did you drop the keys here?"

I got the reply in the form of a feeble "yes"

Now, I was full on panicked. What do I do now, husband has also left for office, spare keys are inside the house, obviously. I'm hungry, the baby inside is asking food. And, I've still not bathed, all the house work is pending too.

What do I do now!!!!!

I immediately called up the security guard n told him about the mishap. He said "madam, this is sealed. How do we take the keys out? We'll have to break this now. I can't do this, will have to call the caretaker"

"Perfect" I thought. Don't know how long it's going to take now. And my daughter, was all quiet till then. I asked her in a stern voice... "Why did you drop the keys there? Mumma told you not to touch the keys right? How many times do I make u understand?? Why don't u listen to Mumma? See what have you done. Now how will Mumma go to Home? " Needless to say, I was VERY angry. But somehow I maintained my composure and called my husband up to inform him what happened.

My daughter was gloomy, she knew she had done a mistake, and realised that Mumma is angry. Obviously it didn't happen knowingly though. Few minutes later the school vehicle arrived, and I made her sit. Everyday I give her a goodbye kiss, and make her sit, and then wave at her till I can't see the vehicle anymore, but today I was angry. I just made her sit, and she too realised that Mumma is angry so she sat quietly with a sad face, and didn't wave at me either.

As the vehicle went away, something broke inside me. I felt a terrible mom guilt. What kind of a mother was I, punishing my poor little child for something she did by mistake? She will be sad for the whole day now... I'm such a bad mom!!

Such thoughts flooded my head n I felt a lump in my throat. My eyes teared up a bit.

In few mins, the caretaker arrived with 2 people. They somehow lifted the vent cover, and found my keys. I thanked them profusely and went home.

The mom guilt wasn't leaving me... It was necessary to make her understand what she did was wrong, but I could clearly see that she understood it. She knew she had done a mistake. She was already sorry n I scolded her even more...

I decided to bake her favourite muffins to cheer her up... And went to the kitchen. In few minutes, my oven was letting out this wonderful aroma of freshly baked blackcurrant muffins, specially made for the piece of my heart.

When it was time for her to come back home, I went downstairs, and waited for her. Her vehicle came, and she was sitting inside silently. She looked at me, and found me smiling at her. Immediately, her face lit up too!!
She literally jumped out, and hugged me, and said "we should not drop the keys.. how will Mumma go home? I won't drop the keys now."

My heart just melted then and there. My little baby understands that she did a mistake, and is feeling sorry for it. She was worried about how will Mumma go home. I showed her the keys n told that uncle helped Mumma take these out. Now, don't drop them again, okay?
She said okay.
"Come, Mumma made muffins for you"

And she gave her million dollars smile, and became cheerful again!!! We went home, and I gave her a muffin to eat, and she relished it so happily, the mom in me was the happiest today.

Not because she was eating something I made happily, but because she understood her fault, and knew it shouldn't be done.

Because she learnt a lesson today. Because I learnt that I should calm down a bit, and give her a chance to reflect on her actions. And also, I realised that she cares for her Mumma since she didn't forget that "how will mumma go home now?"

Kids need to have empathy for others. They also need to realise their mistakes and correct them. And we, as parents, should ensure that they are able to do so.

Did your child ever do something wrong that he/she realised later on?

How did you behave? What did you do?

Pour in your comments, I'm looking forward to hear from all of you!!
Till we meet again 😊
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