Model Repair First

Make repair a normal part of family life. Name the rupture without blame: "We both had big feelings and things got hard." That framing keeps the moment from becoming a search for who is at fault.

Avoid the word "but" in an apology. "I'm sorry I yelled, but you weren't listening" erases the apology entirely. Use physical connection — a hug, a hand on the back — to signal safety. Repair is not a one-time event; it is a practice that reshapes your family over time.