Module 3 Worksheet 4: Repairing After Reacting – BuildingTrust Again
✨ Introduction
All parents lose their temper. All parents say or do things they regret.
What matters is what comes next.
Repair builds trust. It shows your child that love is stronger than mistakes—yours and theirs. But to repair with someone else, you first need to repair with yourself.
🪞 Reflective Practice
1. Think of a time when you overreacted or handled a behavior in a way you later regretted.
Maybe you shouted, punished impulsively, or shut down emotionally.
🖊️ Describe the moment briefly:
2. What were you feeling at the time? What was going on inside you (not just around you)?
- What was my stress level?
- What need of mine wasn’t being met?
- What part of me was triggered—past hurt, fear, shame?
🖊️ Your notes:
3. How did your child respond or react? What do you think they needed most in that moment?
🖊️ Reflect:
4. If you could re-do this moment, what would you try instead?
Not to erase the past—but to learn from it.
🖊️ Imagine a different path:
5. Now write a short “Repair Script” you could say to your child. Use simple, honest words. Include:
- Owning your behavior
- Naming your feelings
- Reassuring connection
- Re-opening the conversation
🖊️ Script it here:
“Hey, I’ve been thinking about earlier. I got really ____, and I shouted. I wish I had paused instead. That wasn’t fair to you. I love you. Can we talk about it together?”
🌀 Visual Reflection (optional)
Draw a heart or a bridge. On one side, write “rupture.” On the other, “repair.”
In the middle, write 1–2 things that help you cross that bridge when things go wrong.
📷 Sketch here:
✅ This exercise connects to the course themes of modeling emotional regulation and building trust. It’s not about being perfect—but about being real, and showing your child how to repair.