Asking what was wrong, it became clear it revolved around the morning’s homeschooling attempts with my 10-year-old and 8-year-old.

After consultation with my wife, I sat down with my son and daughter and gave them these totally new thoughts:

1.  Daddy takes care of his things.
2.  Daddy gets VERY angry when his things  
     are hurt or damaged by others.
3.  Carol was their mother, but Carol is
     Daddy’s wife.
4.  Daddy’s wife is more important to Daddy 
     than anything else they could hurt.
5.  Stop hurting Daddy’s wife!  I won’t stand
     for you damaging what is mine, and
     Carol is mine!

To this day, my adult children (with children of their own) remember that very day, and they remember the words of that very lecture.