Insincere

Troy: “Can I watch TV during breakfast, dada?”
Me: “No, we’re not watching TV during meals anymore, because you weren’t nice last night. Did you forget, because I didn’t? I may have forgiven you, but I didn’t forget.”
Troy: “But I apologized.”
Me: “Yes, but you didn’t mean it. You didn’t apologize because you wanted to make things right between us. You only did it because you wanted to watch TV again.”
Troy: “I tried, but I don’t know how to apologize. I need you to show me.”
Me [turning to look him in the eyes and holding his hands]: “Okay. It would be like this. ‘Dada, I’m sorry that I talked back to you last night. That was very disrespectful of me, and I shouldn’t have done it. You were just trying to take care of me, so I could get enough rest.’”
Troy: “But I don’t know how to do that.”
Me: “I literally just showed you!”
Troy: “Okay. I’m sorry.”
Me: “For what? Do you even know what you did and why it’s wrong?”
Troy: “No.”
Me: “Did you talk back to me when I told you it was time for a shower? Did you tell me ‘No,’ and that you weren’t going to do that or stop watching TV?”
Troy: “Yes.”
Me: “Then that’s what you should apologize for.”
Troy: “I’m sorry, dada. I’m really sorry.”
Me: “Okay, I appreciate it. And I still love you.”
Troy: “I still love you too. Can I watch TV now?”
Me: “Wait, did you only apologize so you could watch TV again, or were you trying to make things right between us?”
Troy: “To watch TV.”
Me: “Then, that’s still not right. I want you to restore the relationship between you and me. To make things right between us again. I don’t care about the TV.”
Troy: “If you won’t let me watch TV, then I’ll never eat breakfast again!”
Me: “That’s your choice. I can always give it to kids who have nothing to eat, and you can go hungry. But you’re still not watching TV.”
Troy: “You don’t love me!”
Me: “I do. I wouldn’t be trying to teach you, if I didn’t love you.”