| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | 1. Victor, when you’re sarcastic with me, |
| Do sarcasm, put-downs, and pouting keep you from | | | | 2. I feel mad. |
| holding Family Meetings? Do you want your kids to | | | | 3. I want you to talk to me in a nicer voice. |
| speak up, to listen, and to be respectful? Do you want | | | | 2nd Example (by a parent) |
| them to become people of character? | | | | 1. Gretta, when you pout if I don’t buy you a toy, |
| In his book, Character Is Destiny, Senator John McCain | | | | 2. I feel upset with you. |
| said, It is your character alone, that will make your | | | | 3. I want you to take a No nicely and say, |
| life happy or unhappy
and you choose it. Parents, | | | | OK Mom. |
| if you want your children to be happy, help them to | | | | 3rd Example (by a younger brother |
| choose character. The Family Meeting is an excellent | | | | 1. Bubba, when you hit me and call me names, |
| tool to help them make that choice. | | | | 2. I feel angry. |
| Perhaps, like other parents, you fear the battles that | | | | 3. I want you to talk nicely and play fair with me. |
| could occur during family meetings. Maybe you | | | | At a time outside the Family Meeting, talk to your kids |
| don’t know how to teach your kids the skills | | | | about this special formula. Post it on the refrigerator. |
| they need. If so, this special Communication Formula is | | | | When one is being sarcastic use the formula. When |
| for you. It's as easy as one, two, three. | | | | the other is pouting use the formula. When another is |
| Communication Formula: | | | | using put-downs use the formula. Teach them to use |
| 1. When you
(Be specific about a behavior.) | | | | the formula too. |
| 2. I feel
(Name a feeling like mad, upset, and angry.) | | | | Practice! Practice! Practice! |
| 3. I want you to
(Give a specific positive behavior.) | | | | When you hold Family Meetings the formula will be |
| Use this communication formula with your kids and | | | | ready to use. You won’t have to worry about |
| have them practice it with each other. Here are three | | | | your kids fighting with each other because |
| examples. | | | | they’ll have this Communication Formula to use. |
| 1st Example(by an older sister) | | | | |