Do sarcasm, put-downs, and pouting keep you from holding Family Meetings? Do you want your kids to speak up, to listen, and to be respectful? Do you want them to become people of character?

In his book, Character Is Destiny, Senator John McCain said, It is your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappyand you choose it. Parents, if you want your children to be happy, help them to choose character. The Family Meeting is an excellent tool to help them make that choice.

Perhaps, like other parents, you fear the battles that could occur during family meetings. Maybe you dont know how to teach your kids the skills they need. If so, this special Communication Formula is for you. It's as easy as one, two, three.

Communication Formula:

1.When you(Be specific about a behavior.)
2.I feel(Name a feeling like mad, upset, and angry.)
3.I want you to(Give a specific positive behavior.)

Use this communication formula with your kids and have them practice it with each other. Here are three examples.

1st Example(by an older sister)

1.Victor, when youre sarcastic with me,
2.I feel mad.
3.I want you to talk to me in a nicer voice.

2nd Example (by a parent)

1.Gretta, when you pout if I dont buy you a toy,
2.I feel upset with you.
3.I want you to take a No nicely and say, OK Mom.

3rd Example (by a younger brother)

1.Bubba, when you hit me and call me names,
2.I feel angry.
3.I want you to talk nicely and play fair with me.

At a time outside the Family Meeting:

Practice! Practice! Practice!

When you hold Family Meetings the formula will be ready to use. You wont have to worry about your kids fighting with each other because theyll have this Communication Formula to use. Theyll be expressing themselves effectively and building character too.

Jean Tracy

Jean Tracy, MSS "Granny Jean" helps parents, teachers and counselors, raise awesome kids with solid characters. She graduated from Seattle University with a degree in education. She taught elementary school in Washington, California, and Connecticut.

Inspired by her desire to help the problem children in her classes, Jean returned to graduate school. She earned a Masters Degree in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Upon returning to her home in Washington State, she worked as a probation officer and then developed a private counseling practice with families and children that spanned 22 years. During this time she earned a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

When asked how she developed her parenting books and products, she tells a unique story. "When I was an intern counselor in an old elementary school in Pennsylvania, I shared my office with the janitor under the stairwell. When the bell rang, the children's pounding footsteps drowned out every counseling session I ever had. The office itself had buckets, mops, and assorted cans lining the walls. The light bulb overhead swung back and forth casting creepy shadows everywhere. My counseling tools were broken down toys in a huge vinyl bag. Those toys never seemed a good way to counsel kids.

When I started my counseling practice, I looked for better skills to understand the kids I counseled. Over the years I developed fun ways to communicate with kids, to help parents help their own kids, and build character too. My unique parenting books and products are the result."

Jean Tracy, "Granny Jean" is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is also an award-winning Distinguished Toastmaster and professional speaker. Her presentations, include:

1. Build Character Now! Practical Tools for Busy Parents 2. Discipline Styles, 3 to Lose and 1 to Choose 3. Family Meetings: This Special Formula Builds Character 4. Teach Your Child Success! 1 Simple Formula, 3 Easy Steps

Granny Jean's presentations are full of stories and interactive activities that will help you as parents, teachers, and counselors build solid character in your awesome children.