It's really important for us as parents to be honest with our kids. When we fail them in any way or do wrong to them, we should be person enough to admit it and say, "Honey, I messed up, I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"

If we lose our temper and speak harshly to them, we should apologize. Sooner or later, they will find out that we aren't perfect anyway.

You may say, "But if I represent God and He doesn't make mistakes, won't my kids think less of god if they see me make mistakes?"

Look at it this way: if a person does you wrong, do you think less of him if he comes to you and apologizes for it? Of course not. We usually think less of the person who doesn't apologize.

Setting A Good Example
When you admit having made a mistake to your kids and ask them to forgive you, you are setting an example for them to follow. They see that when a person flubs up, the right thing to do is to ask forgiveness.

They also realize that messing up doesn't make them unlovable. Your making mistakes and apologizing for them doesn't reflect badly on God, but making mistakes and pretending you are perfect does.

Children can sense hypocrisy a mile away. If you start strutting around, pretending you are perfect, your kids will know you are a phony. And sooner or later they will reject that hypocrisy.

Now notice we didn't say you should act like you are God. We said you should act like God. There is a big difference here.

Some parents are tyrants who bully their kids into obeying them. But that's not how God deals with us. He doesn't beat us over the head, call us names, or tell us how stupid and no—good we are.

And we aren't to act that way either. The apostle Paul said:

Therefore be imitators of God—copy Him and follow His example—as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
(Eph. 5:1 AMP)

Source: How To Raise Your Kids In Troubled Times
by Buddy & Pat Harrison.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers