Starting over after a tough school morning with teenagers often feels like a Herculean task. The rushed pace, unmet expectations, and emotional turbulence can lead to mornings that are not only chaotic but also far from the calm, peaceful start we wish for. Sometimes, things get ugly, with tensions rising over forgotten homework, misplaced items, and irritability all around. But the one thing I’m learning through these messy moments is that repair and “do-overs” are always possible.

As author and podcast guest Hesha Abrams points out  *Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam* in a recent  podcast, how we handle these tough situations matters more than perfection. We have the opportunity to make things right, even after things go sideways. The power of repair is something I embrace and lean on as a parent.

What I’ve realized over the years is that owning up to mistakes—whether it’s snapping at my teen for a minor issue or reacting poorly to stress—actually opens the door for growth and understanding. Dr. Becky Kennedy’s podcast on repairing after a fight highlights the importance of this process. She explains how repairing a disagreement doesn’t require perfection, but it does require humility and vulnerability. That’s something we can model for my kids. If we make a mistake in how we’ve handled the morning chaos, take a moment to reflect and admit where things went wrong. It could be as simple as apologizing for raising my voice or acknowledging that the situation could have handled a situation better. 

What teens take away from these moments of repair is the understanding that it’s okay to make mistakes—it’s how we recover from them that defines us. With teens in the house, we’re bound to have difficult mornings, but why not strive to show them that every misstep doesn’t need to be the end of the world. A new chance is always around the corner. Just like the advice from Dr. Becky, who emphasizes the importance of repair after a fight, I want my kids to know that we can always press reset and start again, creating an atmosphere of grace and growth rather than shame or regret.

3 takeaways:

• Repair to a poor situation is always available 
• These are good kids and we are good parents just having a bad time
• Be creative- a few important words, a laugh and emailed goes a long way, 6  @dunkin glazed to the rescue!