When you wish you’d handled it differently

You know that moment when your teen walks through the door, drops their backpack, and you can feel the mood before they even say a word?

You take a breath and promise yourself to stay calm.
But then they roll their eyes or snap back—and suddenly you’re both saying things you don’t mean.

Later that night, you’re replaying it in your head, thinking, I wish I’d handled that differently.

That’s where what I call The Circle-Back Method comes in.

It’s simple, but powerful: you go back, name what happened, and reconnect.
It sounds like—

“Hey, I didn’t love how that conversation went. Can we start over?”

Or maybe it’s not even words. Maybe it’s sharing a snack, laughing at a meme, or sitting side-by-side watching a show.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
Repair matters more than perfection.

The families who feel closest aren’t the ones who never argue—
they’re the ones who know how to come back together.

When you circle back, you’re teaching your teen that relationships can bend without breaking.
That home is still safe.
That love holds steady even after the hard moments.

And that laugh you’ve been missing?
It’s closer than you think.

🧡 Jeanine