Perfect parents don’t exist. And if they did, would they be any fun? As it is, we pile mistake upon mistake and then add in a few more for good measure. If and when you blow it with your children, have the courage to tell them you were wrong. Practice now: “Kids, I made a mistake.”

One of your greatest struggles will be to avoid bringing your personal battles, your “adults only” concerns home to your kids and then blaming them for becoming the trigger point. Have you ever lost your temper in a frustrating moment and lashed out at those you love? Almost every parent has. It’s what you do next that makes all the difference.

When that occurs, you have a tremendous opportunity for your family to see humility in action. But be quick about it. The longer the lag between the offense and the admission, the weaker the impact of your words.

Confession may be the easiest part of the transaction. Without much prodding, we can launch into great detail about how we were “pushed” into our inappropriate response as our children listen wide-eyed. We blame others for our wrong reactions, responses we should have controlled. Stop. Rewind. Your kids are learning from your bad example.

When you blow it, no matter what your self-justification or backstory, move quickly beyond rationalizations to: “Please forgive me. I was wrong.” It is only through offering yourself up to the mercy of your child that you can experience true reconciliation.

That rebonding pushes aside bitterness and quenches anger. ’Fessing up and asking for forgiveness short-circuits a debilitating pattern. Plus it provides your children with a model worth emulating in their relationships with both God and man.