There had been a meltdown in communication. A disagreement about one small detail of our day had snowballed into an uncommon explosion of built-up emotions. In the heat of that moment, I said something disrespectful to my wife, only to realize that my 14-year-old son was sitting on the recliner behind me, hearing every word.

It was necessary in that moment to apologize to both my wife and my son, and I did. However, there are times when an apology is the wrong response. Here are 5 things parents should never apologize for.