Personal Accountability

It never ceases to amaze me how many adults struggle with the concept of personal accountability. 

I was taught to ‘own up’ when I’d done something wrong as a child and while it isn’t always the easiest thing to do, it’s something I think it important.

NONE of us are perfect and that’s just a consequence of being human. We do make mistakes. But I am tired of hearing things (from adults!) like:

• - Sorry I’m late, it wasn’t my fault. My brother was supposed to wake me up.
• - I was encouraged by someone else to binge drink!
• - I only eat crap food because it’s what my boyfriend brings home.
• - Our breakup was his/her fault.
• - [Insert anything at all here] was his/her fault.

My son got in trouble at school last week for talking repeatedly during class. 

“You know you’re supposed to listen in class,” I told him. “It’s important.”

“I know,” he responded. “But Kyle kept talking to me.”

“So you’re saying it’s Kyle’s fault? Really?”

He took a moment to think about it.

“No. It was my fault. I talked when I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

“It isn’t me you need to apologise to, is it?”

“No. It’s my teacher.”

And to his credit, I was informed that the next morning he went to his teacher and apologised for interrupting her lesson.

The point is that he is SEVEN and even at that age is able to comprehend the concept of accepting personal accountability for his role in issues or disputes and for the mistakes he makes.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES! But I’m tired of supposedly grown adults who are still completely incapable of accepting the part they played, preferring instead to blame everyone and everything around them for everything that happens. It’s incredibly childish.

/Rant over.

Day may continue :)