Q: My husband and I yelled in front of our toddlers. Will one argument cause them lasting harm?

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Question: My husband and I had a rare but intense argument in front of our young children. We both raised our voices, which scared them. One of our kids became very concerned for their dad, cried, and even apologized, thinking it was their fault. We immediately stopped, reassured them that it wasn't their fault, and apologized for our behavior. We tried to make the rest of the day as normal and loving as possible.

This is the first time something like this has happened. How will this single incident impact them? What can we do to make sure they don't have a bad memory or any negative effects from this? Do we need to consider therapy for them?

Answer: Sounds like you guys handled the aftermath really well, especially reassuring them it wasn't their fault – toddlers are such sweet little sponges and they totally can think it's on them, like when yours said sorry and hugged dad. That's so telling of how much they feel it.

The good news is, they also see the repair. As long as you guys showed them you're okay with each other again, apologized for the scary voices, and poured on the love (which it sounds like you did!), they generally bounce back. One big, loud argument, especially if it's not the norm, is usually more of a scary blip than something that leaves a permanent mark.

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