Mistakes are obviously best avoided. But part of growing up is understanding that nobody’s perfect … not even parents!

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

It’s inevitable that everyone fails. The trick is knowing how to “fail forward.” It means learning from your mistakes … and keeping yourself from repeating them. So here are a few ways you can practice “failing forward” in your own life:

First, admit when you’re wrong! Don’t make excuses.

Second, apologize to those you hurt.

And third, ask your teen what the consequences should be for your own failures … and carry through!

Remember, your teen will blow it one day. But if you teach them how to “fail forward” … you’ll give them an invaluable tool for every stage of life.