How should a father talk to his children if he is guilty of harshness or anger towards them?

Jeff Pollard explains in this video that there will undoubtedly be instances where a father sins against his children in some way. He needs to sit them down and tell them that he is sorry for what he did.

He must explain that there is no excuse for the way that he reacted. He must tell them that how he just treated them was sinful, even though the occasion might have demanded discipline. It is important to ask for their forgiveness and to seek reconciliation.

Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

A father, perhaps sinning against his children verbally or in some action, he may discipline them too harshly, He needs to sit them down right before them, before him, and look them in the eye and say to them, you know how daddy sounded? You know the way that I spanked you and you could tell my anger. The Lord has convicted me that what I've done is wicked. I should not have spoken to you that way. There was no excuse for the way I reacted to you.

How I just treated you was sinful, even though the occasion demanded discipline. Would you please forgive me? I have asked the Lord to forgive me. Son, my beloved daughter, would you please forgive me?