Remembering that mistakes are normal and natural, actively teach yourself (and your children) how to be accountable by rectifying a mistake following this simple three-part message: 1. Say what happened in a neutral way-a just-the-facts type of communication. “I really wanted you to get ready quicker, so I threw your coat at you and accidentally hit you in the face.” 2. Say “I made a mistake.” 3. Then ask, “What can I do to help?” Perhaps your child will want a hug, perhaps you can do it over again and toss the coat more gently. Perhaps a smile is all that is needed to clean up the situation. If you consciously use this three-part-message as an accountability tool, you will learn responsibility, forgiveness and great communication skills.

Please refer to the book for more details on this activity.