It’s easy to get each other upset, even during routine conversation. I have found the best strategy when conflict surfaces is to explore a “start over.”
Starting over means whoever has the most patience at that moment slows down and says, “hey, let’s start over. Tell me again what you were saying…”
It’s unnecessary to spend a lot of time defending yourself or accusing your spouse of some sneak attack.
Take a deep breath, and then, start over, using some of the skills you have learned as you work to communicate better with the person you love.