Should parents apologize to their kids?

Yes, parents should apologize to their kids when they do something wrong. We’re all people and we all make mistakes. It’s a sign of maturity when one owns up to their wrongdoings.

To be completely honest, your parents sound like assholes.

Your stepmom is a crazy person and your dad is a pathetic wimp.

It’s only people who are unworthy of respect on their own merits that demand respect from others due to status (race, gender, age, etc.). Those people are a drag on society, and the reason why we can’t have nice things.

If you grow up to think like your stepmom then you will have failed, and America will be the worse for it.
Don’t hate America. It’s yours now- and even if you never asked for it, you now are just as responsible for it as are the rest of us. So don’t hate your country, help to fix it!

I have apologized to my kids many times when I screwed up.

If they are wrong, they should apologize.

Just go to school and move out. At 17, you can make it until then. Meanwhile, try not to rock the boat.

Yes. It’s exactly like @livelaughlove21 said. Plus, it sets a good example—which is another thing that parents are supposed to do.

Parents should apologize to children but honestly I can understand why she would be upset.

Hating american opinions is the same as saying I think all americans are stupid. Saying you hate american youths is the same. I do not or ever will agree with everything said or done in our country but I won’t say I hate all americans. There are good and great people who try to change the direction of our country. You can hate and idea but by making the statement the way you did, you did come off as anti-american. No land is perfect, no country or no man. But we do the best we can and by far this country is better than most. As @rexacoracofalipitorius pointed out. Don’t hate it, fix it.

But back to your original question. I have apologized to my children when I believe I was in the wrong. I think it shows kids that being correct in your behavior and humble, no matter how old is a valuable lesson as well. The world doesn’t need dictators, it needs open and honest exchange of ideas so that understanding each other is possible and with that comes growth. Try telling that to your mom and dad.

Your stepmom possibly is limited. Think of it like this, if she was unable to walk, a physical limitation, you would not espect her to walk. She has a psychological limitation. She is easily angered and lacks some of the social graces. You won’t be able to change it. Even if she apologizes, if I am right, she will likely continue to do things like this, and after a while the apology wouldn’t matter much anyway.

It sounds like she is a right winger who also probably has some anxiety problems, and her anxiety throws her off the handle, or she might have some sort of anger problem.

If this is just a one time off the wall out of character event for her, talk to her and clear the air. Tell her you are very upset that you were misunderstood.

Yes they should apologise. I’m sorry you had to go through that. It sounds horrible.

On the plus side, you sound like you are turning out very well. So remember this for when you have children and you’ll behave better.

I have checked back at many of your earlier questions, and I wish I had some new advice for you.

You and your family seem to have ongoing problems that are beyond the power of this online community to address.

http://www.fluther.com/158105/how-would-you-describe-this-person/

http://www.fluther.com/158996/why-are-the-girls-at-my-school-so-vicious/

http://www.fluther.com/159226/why-do-my-parents-choose-to-ignore-my-depression/

http://www.fluther.com/159723/why-are-some-people-persnickety-without-reason/

I did try to tell her I was upset.
She didnt respond and just that I upset her all the time with things I say. But she never tells me when things bother her.
Like yesterday she suggested I go to the college she graduated from for my undergraduate. I don’t like her school and plus its like 30 miles from here and I really want to go out-of-state.

Apparently she took it like I was calling her stupid and saying anyone who goes to her college is stupid and I’m too good for it.

And she always calls her coworkers hill billy idiots but she threw it in my face that it apparently hurts her feelings when I call kids from my school redneck juveniles because she loves the town she lives in (we’re not from here).

And I’ve been gone for a week for college prep at the art school I want to go to and I guess she’s been brainwashing my dad. When I got home today we were trying to decide where to go to dinner and they suggested pizza or subs because my SM didnt want get dressed to go anywhere. I said that’s what I’ve eaten all week and I don’t really want it.

All of a sudden to she gets up yells “Fine!” And goes to get ready. My dad looks at me and says “Why’d you do that? You could have made it easier for us by just eating subs and pizza again.” As if its my fault his 57 year old wife threw a tantrum because she had to take a shower.

Your dad is almost always going to pick her side, especially if you are already almost out of high school. Don’t make it a competition between your SM and you, and don’t “test” your father to see what side he picks. I don’t think you are purposely testing him. Your SM is obviously pretty volatile. Luckily you will be out of the house soon. Does your dad support you going to school out of state? Don’t seek your SM’s approval, she probably feels very insecure. If she constantly puts other people down it is most likely so she feels better about herself. It explains why she can’t take it when you criticize where she is from, but she can criticize people who are very similar, but just from a different town.

It is best not to talk about other people negatively anyway, so you can stop doing that. You can be better than that.

Try to be more agreeable around her. She can’t handle someone being contrary.

My dad supports me going out of state but also says he’s not going to help with my tuition at all. That’s changed from, “I wanna help you as much as I can” last year.

And I’m a photographer and I told them if they get me a printer and photoshop and I can do wedding photography to pay them back and also learn about photoshop and working with people because at the college I want to go to, the kids have already had their work in galleries and are photoshop pros and I haven’t done any of that.

They said no. I asked why they don’t support me and they say they do but they’re not going to be indulgent parents because I’m not a priority and this is my dream not theirs, they don’t have to help me because they don’t care.
Even though my dad said he wanted to get me what I needed for photography. That’s gonna change soon because my SM wears the pants.

You can’t change who your parents are or how they behave. So how can you get the equipment you need to follow your ambitions? Can you get a part time job to buy a printer? Can you enter photographic competitions that offer cash prizes or even equipment?

I’m not in the US, so how will you fund going to college without your parents support? Will you get a scholarship?

There’s no point focusing on the negatives with regard to your parents. You can’t change that. So you need to think about what you can do to achieve your goals.

Of course, no brainer.

Interesting that she said“I don’t care what people think of me?”
You could say the same to her as well ?
Why would you care what she thinks?
In life there are going to be a lot of different opinions around.
Everyone is entitlesd to their own opinion as well as she.
The difference is that she does not like your opinion?
She also needs to appologise to the restaurant as well as the people there who had to listen to that tirade.
Keep telling her that YOU don’t care What SHE Thinks either!
That will shut her up.