Evan pushed Sean. I demand Evan to apologize to Sean, wondering if I should put Evan in a time out, but I decided an apology was enough.
Evan: I’m sorry Seanny for pushing you, but you shouldn’t have tried to take my bike.
That’s not what I meant at all!
I’m sorry I hit you, but your face was in the way of my fist.
I’m sorry I ate the last pizza, but you weren’t there.
I’m sorry, officer, but you shouldn’t have been radaring me.
Faemom 
February 11, 2009 at 5:26 pm
“but”
I feel like that’s one of the most important childhood tools, followed closely by “no,” “why,” and the blatant ignore.
February 11, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Sometimes I still find myself using variations of this, like, “I’m sorry *you* think I was being grumpy” instead of “Sorry for being grumpy.” Maybe we’re just more honest about how we feel as kids! 😉
February 11, 2009 at 8:41 pm
LOL! My girls will say sorry when I tell them to, but though their words say one thing, their eyes say another. Talk about looks that kill!
February 12, 2009 at 7:46 am
I’m sorry that I didn’t make dinner, I didn’t realize you’d be hungry at 6:00… I’m sorry that you have no clean underwear, I didn’t know you’d want some when you get dressed for school… You could have some serious fun with that logic! I might have to test it out this afternoon 🙂
February 13, 2009 at 1:20 pm
ck~ Yup. And let’s add “hiding” as they learn to hide themselves or the thing they broke.
OV~ HAHAHAHA. I wish I could get away with that. People acutally LISTEN and pick up on the shirking.
Gibby~ HA! Smart girls. How’s their tone?
KathyB!~ Did you try it? Alas my boys are too young for that logic to work, but in a few years . . .