“You did what!?”
“What were you thinking!?”
“Why would you make that choice!?”
“Are you out of your mind!?”
STOP.
Before you let those reactions fly, take a breath. Every fiber of your being may urge you to unleash a torrent of criticism on your child after a significant blunder, but it’s crucial to keep your composure. Your role is to transform this misstep into a valuable lesson. If you fail to guide both your child and yourself through this incident, you’ll be making a mistake of your own.
So, what will I say to my child after they’ve made a poor decision?
Likely things I shouldn’t.
Likely things I’ll wish I hadn’t said.
Likely words that will haunt me with guilt.
But, hopefully, not? In anticipation of a situation I sincerely hope never arises, yet know is inevitable, I’ve prepared a dialogue to help me navigate the upcoming discussions.