Sorry

For those who celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the Days of Awe (Days of Repentance) leading up to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), reflection, spiritual awakening and asking for forgiveness is all part of the season adding up to a new start and a chance to improve in the coming year.

I was doing okay this month leading up to the holidays until I came upon an article that sited the seven biggest parenting mistakes. Written by Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and instructor at Northeastern University, I was instantly reminded of my son's previous commentary whenever I find this stuff, asking me to "lay off those 'parenting magazines.' " But the online piece snuck up on my feed when I wasn't looking, finding a host of new reasons to express regret to the younger members of my family.

The magnificent seven include these standout three:

Letting (your kids) escape responsibility. We covered the basics: how to cook, clean, do laundry and toss garbage thanks to the way your dad instructed. So is it considered an escape if I run the wash and you fold? For that, I do apologize as I have done some of the work and am caught in a technicality.

Preventing them from making mistakes. There's a passage in our prayer books that roughly says we have missed the mark if we do not tolerate the actions of others that we find acceptable in ourselves. Yes, my mistake is that I have periodically tried to stop you both from making yours. Here's my solemn promise: I'll stop my ways if you continue do what you do: learn from the errors and say sorry when you need to.

Being overprotective. An exhausting proposition that mama bears instinctively conduct with their cubs. I ask for your patience and forgiveness as this is just part of the Mom (or Dad) code of ethics.

Lists aside, allow me to affirm reexamining our lives to do better is never a bad thing. But I have just one question: Ms. Morin, do you have any kids?

Forgive me, but I'm just asking.

A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is an East Meadow resident and a direct marketing/advertising executive who teaches advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, LIU Post and SUNY Old Westbury.