164. Saying Sorry (or not...)

From Survival in the Family: A Handbook by Nidhi Ranjan (From suggested reading, Paper IV – Family Politics, Family Management Course)

Saying Sorry (or not…)

Now and again such situations will arise where you will be expected to apologize to a member of your family. This expectation may come as a demand, as an emotional blackmail, as a threat or even as a feeling of guilt. However, the expression ‘sorry’ is like money, which you would rather take than give.

Whenever you are expected to apologize to a family member (the aggrieved party), you can try any one or a combination of the following to avoid the painful act of saying ‘sorry’:

Send your spouse to aggrieved party.

Send your children.

Send a box of sweets.

Send something home cooked.

Invite the aggrieved party for evening snacks and behave as if nothing has happened.

Invite the aggrieved party and explain politely why you are right.

Meet the aggrieved party and justify your actions.

Meet the aggrieved party and demand apology.

Paint yourself as the aggrieved party.

Demand victim status.

Fight and break off relations. Use senior members of the family to mediate a patch up. But make sure both parties say sorry, or none.

Earn a lot of money. Nobody will ever expect you to say sorry again as rich people do not apologize.