We try really hard to work on Mallory’s manners. She is pretty good with please, thank you, and you’re yelcome (welcome) but the one we are having a little trouble with is “I’m sorry”.
She tends to hit us when she is really frustrated (usually it’s frustration + being exhausted) and our rule is that we immediately stop whatever we are doing, remove her from the situation if necessary, and she has to say she’s sorry, and tell us what she did to require her to say she’s sorry. Sometimes she is pretty quick to say “I sorry” and will point out where on us she hit us. Sometimes it takes a little timeout in her room for her to figure out that we aren’t joking. I should point out that she doesn’t have to say she’s sorry very often but we aim for consistency around here.
Anyway, my favorite is when we are playing and she accidentally steps on my toe (causing me to say “OW!” or) runs into Cooper (sending him scrambling) or something and without any prompting and with no hesitation or interruption in her playing, she will say “I sorry!” and continue on her way.
I hope it means we are doing something right.