For instance, you could start with, “I need to talk to you for a minute” or “I have something I need to talk with you about. ” Avoid saying something like, “You and I need to talk” or “Your daughter says I need to talk with you,” which shifts the focus off of yourself and could make you look insincere.
Try, “I was wrong for saying/doing that” or simply, “I was wrong. ”
For instance, if you and your girlfriend got into a bad fight, say, “I was wrong to raise my voice and shout at your daughter, no matter how angry we were. ” Even if it’s for something relatively small, take the time to acknowledge your specific mistakes. You could say, “It was my fault we were late to the airport” or, “I should have stopped to pick up the ice and drinks like I said I would. ”
For instance, say, “I really messed up” or “It was my mistake” instead of something like, “I’m sorry this happened, but it wasn’t my fault" or “She pushed me too far. ” If he asks you for clarification about what happened, avoid getting defensive and answer him truthfully. He may just want to understand the situation better.
Try, “I’m sorry” or “I have to apologize” or even, “I’m deeply sorry. ” Avoid going too far with it. Say it once and say it like you mean it.
Just simply saying that you’re sorry without asking him to forgive you could make it seem like your heart isn’t really in the apology. You might say, “I understand that what I did was wrong, but would you be able to forgive me?” or “Can you forgive me for what I’ve done? If you need time to think about it, I understand. "
For instance, you could say, “I’m going to talk to a therapist about learning to control my temper” or “I’m going to set 2 alarms so we won’t be late again. ”
Avoid saying something like, “I realize what this looks like, but you have to see this from my perspective” or “If you had been there, you would understand why I was so angry. "
Try, “I swear, this won’t ever happen again” or “You have my word that I won’t repeat this mistake. ” Make a commitment to change. If you offended your girlfriend’s dad by telling a rude joke, for example, think about how your words affect people going forward.
You could try, “I just wanted to apologize, and now I’m going to get out of your hair. ” If he seems like he wants you to stay or he continues to talk to you, by all means, stick around! Just don’t try to force the situation.
It’s also super important that you follow up your promises with action. If you say you’re going to do something to make amends, do it! Your girlfriend’s dad will definitely notice.
