--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But then as time passed, I learned the…" description: "\"But then as time passed, I learned the lesson that parents do early on. You fail sometimes. No matter how much you love your children, there are times ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/louise-erdrich-1271_child_but-then-as-time-passed-i-learned-the-le_1969446.png" --- # But then as time passed, I learned the lesson that parents… ![“But then as time passed, I learned the lesson that parents do early on. You fail sometimes. No matter how much you love your children, there are times you slip. There are moments you can't give, stutter, lose your temper, or simply lose face with the world, and you can't explain this to a child.” quote by Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/louise-erdrich-1271_child_but-then-as-time-passed-i-learned-the-le_1969446.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/louise-erdrich-1271_child_but-then-as-time-passed-i-learned-the-le_1969446.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/louise-erdrich-1271_child_but-then-as-time-passed-i-learned-the-le_1969446.png) > “But then as time passed, I learned the lesson that parents do early on. You fail sometimes. No matter how much you love your children, there are times you slip. There are moments you can't give, stutter, lose your temper, or simply lose face with the world, and you can't explain this to a child.” [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on parental imperfection, acknowledging that love does not prevent occasional failures or loss of composure, and that these moments are hard to explain to children. **In simple terms:** Parents sometimes fail despite love. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and communicate honestly with children. Themes parenting imperfection communication Mood thoughtful hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - parent‑child talks - therapy - self‑compassion - role modeling - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can parents model vulnerability positively? - What strategies help explain mistakes to children? A Different Perspective It may not address cultural expectations of parenting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Love your children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-your-children/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The first and finest lesson that parents can teach their children is faith and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smiley-blanton/the-first-and-finest-lesson-that-parents-can-teach-their-children-is/) [Smiley Blanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smiley-blanton/) > [“How did you explain to someone—how did you explain to a child, a child you loved—that someone they adored was not to be trusted?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/how-did-you-explain-to-someone-how-did-you-explain-to-a-child-a-child/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [I think someone should explain to the child that it's OK to make mistakes. 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