How do I show that fixing a wrong can become a source of strength? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children often believe that their mistakes weaken them. They worry that being corrected or having to apologise makes them look smaller in the eyes of others. Your role is to help them reframe the act of repair as an act of courage that actually builds their strength. This simple shift in perspective can change their view of mistakes from permanent stains on their character to stepping-stones for growth. 

Teach That Strength Is Honesty Plus Action 

Explain to your child, ‘Real strength is not found in never slipping up. Real strength is in facing the truth, making a repair, and then doing better.’ You can point out that even adults have more respect for those who own up to their mistakes and make amends. If possible, highlight positive role models, whether from your community or the wider world, who have admitted their errors and have grown stronger as a result. 

Use Micro-Scripts of Empowerment 

After your child has successfully made a repair, use specific words of affirmation. 

• ‘That took a lot of courage. You faced the fact of what happened instead of hiding from it.’ 

• ‘Your apology showed a great deal of maturity. That is a sign of real strength.’ 

• ‘You fixed the harm that was done and proved that you are capable of rebuilding trust.’ 

These statements reinforce the idea that making a repair is not an act of weakness, but a powerful act of growth. 

Connect the Act of Repair to Leadership 

Show your child that true leaders are those who can accept their mistakes and model the process of change. When your child apologises to their peers, you can highlight that this action will make others trust them more in the future. For example: ‘Because you made that repair, your friends now know that you are a reliable person.’ This helps to transform a moment of embarrassment into an opportunity for earning respect. 

Build Visible Proof of Their Strength 

Consider keeping a simple ‘Repair Log’ where your child can briefly note down their mistakes, the repair action they took, and the eventual outcome. You can review this log together each week and ask a simple, reflective question: ‘Which of these repairs made you feel the strongest?’ Over time, this log will provide a tangible track record of their resilience, not of their failure. 

When your child makes a repair, close the loop with an affirming statement: ‘Today, you proved that our mistakes can make us stronger. You have built your courage, your honesty, and the trust that others have in you.’ You can then link this back to their faith: ‘Allah Almighty loves those who return to Him. Your repair was not just a duty; it was a step closer to Him.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Allah Almighty Elevates Those Who Turn Back to Him 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 222: 

‘…Indeed, Allah (Almighty) loves those who repent excessively and those who adore their personal purification.’ 

This beautiful verse teaches us that repentance and self-correction are not signs of weakness to be ashamed of. Rather, they are beloved acts that bring a person closer to the love of Allah Almighty. Teaching this to your child helps them to see the act of repair as a source of honour, not shame. 

The Ability to Repent Is a Sign of Strength 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 422, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if you did not commit sin, Allah would do away with you and bring people who would commit sin and ask for forgiveness from Allah, and He would forgive them.’ 

This hadith shows that the ability to repent and repair our mistakes is, in itself, a strength and a mercy from Allah. It is a process that makes a believer more resilient, not weaker. When children learn this, they begin to understand that fixing their wrongs is part of what makes them beloved to Allah Almighty.