It was an autumn day, the leaves were falling, the cool crisp air tickled your nose and with every step you could hear the crumble of fallen leaves.
The year was 1996, it was a normal day, filled with the routine as many days before. This day I would find myself with a lesson learned from a 3 year old. We arrived home in the early afternoon, following a day at preschool. My twin boys were only 3 at the time and the wonder of a 3 year old can bring many surprises.
As we approached our front door, with an exciting surprise, both of my boys found a bag of Chips-Ahoy cookie samples with a coupon attached to the door. “Momma, somebody left us cookies, can we eat them now”? Were the words from Tyler, my more reserved child. Just as I opened the door to let my boys in, I turned around and Jordan was nowhere to be seen. He disappeared within seconds. Not a word was spoken, not a crumbling sound of leaves, he was gone. 
Immediately I panicked and ran around to the back of our house, then to the neighbors behind our house, the entire time feeling as though my heart would beat out of my chest with the fear that somebody had taken my child. I ran to the front, just as I was heading up towards each neighbors house, there he was, my little 3 year old boy of wonder, Jordan, holding 6 bags of cookies in his hand. Not only was he so proud, but he was ready to eat every single cookie that he found.
Me standing there, just thankful that my little boy of wonder was OK, with tears in my eyes,
I said, “Jordan, where did you go? Mommy thought somebody took you away”.
He just stared at me.
I said, “Jordan where did you get those cookies?”
He said, “Momma, a guy on his bike rode by and said, “Hey, kid! Do you want more cookies? And I said sure”.
Immediately I clenched my mouth shut, because I was trying to set a good example and not bust up laughing.
I proceeded to ask Jordan, “Did you take them off the neighbors doors?”
He said, “Nope, just the guy on the bike gave them to me”.
I looked over at each of the neighboring homes, no bags of cookies on their doors, no sign of the neighbors being home to grab them already, nothing, but the sign of a 3 year old boy of wonder taking the bags from the doors. 
Now it was up to me to set a good example and have him do the right thing.
So, I said, “Jordan, you know, you are going to have to put all those cookies back”.
He just stared up at me and grabbed a hold of my hand and one by one we put them back on the doors.
To this day, we have a good laugh when we bring up this story and Jordan will always be left with that lesson learned that he can’t blame “the guy on his bike”.
The reason why I chose to share this story is because every day we are faced with choices and sometimes those choices turn into mistakes. Whether it be personally or professionally, the question should always be asked, “do I own up to my mistakes”? Rather than blaming it on “the innocent guy on his bike” who may or may not exist, just accept that you are human and work on making it right. There is just no other way around it. I’ve made my share of mistakes and consciously, I choose to look at myself in the mirror with peace and/or confront that person face to face and own up to it, with honesty, integrity, and dignity.
5 Steps to Making it Right:
- Stand tall with full confidence and believe in yourself that you are responsible to make it right.
- Own it, don't run away from it and certainly don't blame anybody or anything else for it.
- Forgive yourself first and then other's will forgive you along the way.
- Look at the person (s) and with full integrity and honesty admit you made a mistake.
- Learn from your mistakes and remember always, that you are human.
A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying... that he is wiser today than he was yesterday. ~Alexander Pope, in Swift, Miscellanies
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Julie Neerings, GRI- Heart of Utah Real Estate Copyright © 2008- If you are considering buying, selling, military relocations to Hill AFB or relocating to Utah, you deserve local expertise and advice to be provided by a professional in real estate. Julie Neerings is a Utah REALTOR® providing full time, professional real estate services to buyers and sellers in the cities of Layton, Bountiful, Woods Cross, West Valley, West Jordan, South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman and all surrounding cities.
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Julie - I think this story is darling! I see a little one covered with chocolate chips all over his mouth and saying, "No, Mommy I didn't eat a cookie at all!" Your story is precious and what a great life's lesson you were able to teach your little guy! I am confident it makes for a great memory to chuckle over. 
Good post Julie. Yep, own up to your mistakes. Admit them and move on.