Acknowledging Parenting Mistakes Sets a Strong Example, Say BYU–Pathway Worldwide Leaders

Tad Walch reports on religious topics, especially focusing on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Because no family or parent is perfect, it’s crucial for parents to be ready for inevitable mistakes, leaders at BYU–Pathway Worldwide emphasized Friday.

“Like many others, we made plenty of parenting mistakes—and our kids made mistakes too,” said Sister Melinda Ashton during BYU-PW’s weekly virtual devotional for 80,000 students.

As the spouse of BYU-PW President Brian Ashton, she said it’s powerful when a parent acknowledges wrongdoing to their child.

“One of the key things we should do as parents is repent,” she said. “Our children benefit from hearing us own our faults and seek forgiveness from them and others.”

Sister Ashton said that example allows children to witness their parents drawing on Christ’s strength through repentance.

“When children observe their parents repenting, they learn that repentance helps us become who God wants us to be,” she said. “It also makes them more likely to turn to us and to repent when they stumble.”

During the 11-minute devotional, the Ashtons outlined five scripture-based practices to help parents lead their homes in righteousness:

Set a righteous example.

Teach truth and correct with love.

Share faith-building stories and personal miracles.

Pray regularly with children.

Foster a united, loving home culture.

President Ashton also shared five ideas to help married BYU-PW students deepen their connection:

Say “I love you” often.

Go on weekly date nights.

Hold hands frequently.

Sit close together.

Spend quality time together

He also shared what the family considers a miracle. Before a trip, Sister Ashton’s father gave each family member a blessing for safety. During the vacation, their 5-year-old son ran into the street.

“As I shouted for him to stop, I feared I was about to witness his death,” President Ashton recalled.

Miraculously, the driver braked hard and the car spun 360 degrees around their son, missing him by mere inches.

“The car came so close the driver believed she’d hit him, but our son was completely unharmed,” he said.

The Ashtons shared the experience as proof of God’s care for His children.

“God doesn’t remove every hardship,” Sister Ashton said. “Challenges help us grow. Sometimes, instead of fixing problems, God strengthens us to face them. But we affirm He can perform miracles when it aligns with His will.”

President Ashton concluded that one of the most vital truths parents can teach is that God is real and we are His children.

“Knowing God is our spiritual Father means we have divine roots and divine potential,” he said. “It means we can turn to Him in prayer and receive help when we need it.”