Q&A for How to Say Sorry to Your Mother After a Great Mistake

Focus on your regret. Feeling regret about a past outburst can motivate you to act differently, to understand yourself better, and to even seek help.

Give it time. For a big mistake, your mom needs more than apology. Be patient and back up your words with actions. You cannot force someone to forgive you, but you can try your best to encourage them to do so.

She may not be ready to hear your apology yet. Try giving her a few days. However, if this behavior is typical of your mother, she may not be the type to benefit from a face-to-face apology. Write a letter instead.

Being honest is a good first step. You're acknowledging you made a mistake in the past, and want to do better in the future. You can't make another person forgive you, but a sincere apology is a good first step. From there, work on being more honest in the future.

You should apologize the same way you would in any circumstances. However, strict parents may be less likely to listen. Therefore, writing a letter can be as effective as offering a sincere apology. It may be easier to express yourself in writing with stricter parents.

Your mother probably does not hate you. She may simply be very angry and need time to process. Be understanding of this. If you're sincere and kind, she will eventually forgive you.

If you can't keep your emotions in check in person, write a letter. A thoughtful letter can be as effective an apology as one given face-to-face.

Give her more time, if necessary. However, if your mom is a bad listener by nature, write a letter instead of giving a face-to-face apology.

It sounds like this is a communication and boundary issue. You want more freedom with your personal sense of style, and your mother uses cold shouldering as a way to get her way. Have a sit down talk with your mom about why you want to cut your eyebrows. You should also tell her that you need to communicate with you, rather than ignoring you, when there is an issue.

You should be careful when expressing your own feelings during an apology. You want to make sure your mom's emotions are prioritized. It can come off the wrong way if you focus too much on how you feel. Try to apologize again, talking primarily about how your actions affected your mother.

Reflect on how your behavior hurt them and offer both parents a sincere apology. Strive to avoid the behavior again in the future. Try to be more appreciative of your parents, and express gratitude for the time and money they spend on you.

Take your responsibility, if any, for the mistake, even if was mostly your siblings fault. Apologize for trying to get in the middle of a conflict between your parents and siblings. You can't force them to forgive someone else.

If this is the second time you've made this mistake, you're right your parents will need more than an apology. However, you should still offer one. An apology can be helpful, even if if more actions are necessary. In addition to apologizing, lay out a concrete plan to stop spending your parents money online and follow through with this plan.

You should refrain from expressing remorse in a text message. This may look insincere, and an apology will require more words than most people can fit into a text.

Tell another adult or contact the authorities in your area. Abuse is never acceptable, even if you made a mistake.

Different ideas about sex can be a major cause of disagreements between mothers and children. Make sure your mother understands that you are allowed to make your own decisions regarding your body. However, it may help to assure her that you're practicing safe sex. Your mother may be more comfortable with you having sex if you're being careful.