Notice How You Talk About Mistakes

Take out a piece of paper and pen because we’re going to ask you to track something for a week. Every time you speak in front of your teens about someone’s mistake, note whether you speak about the mistake or what they did after to fix it (if anything). Teens listen to what is said as well as what is not said, and many learn to fear mistakes because they sense that we see errors as potential catastrophes. Make sure you emphasize moments of growth because recovery often leads to better decisions in the future.

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