Parenting is often a journey full of expectations, advice, and social norms. While some parents choose to adhere to traditional methods of raising their children, others prefer a more unconventional approach, challenging age-old ideas. Emma, a proud and empathetic mother, is one such parent who has embraced a unique style. She’s chosen to defy conventional parenting wisdom, especially when it comes to making her son say “thank you” or “sorry.” This decision hasn’t just changed her relationship with her son—it’s also sparked a lot of conversation among other parents, both online and offline.

Emma’s approach to parenting has always been about empathy and understanding rather than strict adherence to societal norms. For her, the core of parenting lies in teaching children about authenticity, emotional intelligence, and empathy, rather than simply conditioning them to perform certain actions to please others. That’s why she decided to stop forcing her son to say “thank you” or “sorry,” believing these expressions should come naturally from genuine feelings, not from obligation.

To Emma, forcing a child to say these words strips them of their real meaning. She believes that when children are made to say “thank you” or “sorry” out of routine or as part of a social expectation, the words lose their sincerity. Emma recalls countless times when her son would mutter a half-hearted apology or a rushed “thank you,” and she realized that he was merely going through the motions. He wasn’t truly feeling gratitude or remorse—he was just saying what he was supposed to say because that’s what he was taught to do.