Parenting Guru: Why we've started apologizing with humor

Most of my rapidly graying hair stems from conflicts with my teenage sons. You see, we have a hard time admitting when we're wrong. My kids are genetically doomed, after all. With an Irish mom and a Cuban dad - we call ourselves Cubish - there's no shortage of temper or stubbornness in our home. I grew up this way, too. My dad's favorite saying was "I may not be right, but I am NEVER wrong." You get the gist.

When I realized that stomping my foot and yelling "Say you're sorry!" wasn't working (surprise, surprise), I decided to try humor. Now, we don't say we're wrong. We sing it. We belt out "YOOOOUUUU were right, and I-I-I-I-I was wrong" in full operatic voice. At home, in the car, in restaurants. And it works. It defuses the situation. And it's totally embarrassing, which is why we insist on pushing each other's buttons less often (at least in public). We started this family tradition when the boys were about 10, and to be honest, now that they're older, we're more likely to whisper-sing than belt it out. But it keeps us humble and that's a great trait when you're apologizing.