The Repair Protocol

Use this the moment you realize you slipped:

• Stabilize first. Step into another room for sixty seconds. Breathe. You cannot repair while you are still flooded.
• Name it plainly. "I yelled, and that was not okay. You did not deserve that."
• Own it fully. No "but you were...". Drop the conditions and the excuse.
• Reconnect. Offer a hug, sit close, or just soften your face and your voice.
• Commit. "I am working on doing better. I love you."

A child watching an adult own a mistake and choose to grow is witnessing something rare and powerful.