What’s the family atmosphere in your home? Is it one of tension and perfection? Are your kids allowed to make mistakes?

Mark Twain once said, “There are no mistakes in life, there are only lessons to be learned.”

Blunders are inevitable for teens. When kids begin making decisions for themselves—and especially when adolescents make decisions of consequence—mistakes are bound to happen. But the best place for a teen to blow it is at home, where Mom and Dad will be there to echo Mark Twain.

Next time he or she makes a huge blunder, don’t jump all over the mistake and launch into a lecture.

Create an atmosphere of safety where it’s okay to fail. Let those inescapable moments become natural places to learn.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.