When my boys were growing up, soccer, football, and basketball kept us on the run. Both my husband (Jims a psychologist) and I were therapists. We helped others manage their lives yet our own lives were spinning out of control. We knew we needed to make face-to-face time with our boys. We wanted them to share our values, to learn how to solve people problems, and to have family fun together.

Worried about whos influencing your kids? Are your family members too busy for each other? Do activities, television, and computers replace family time? If so, there is an answer.

We decided to start Family Meetings so we bought one of those books with empty pages. We scheduled our meetings the same time every week, right after Sunday breakfast.

Our youngest son, Brian, was only four when we started. I remember laughing to myself when his brother, Scott, age 8, got mad because Brian always chose the same thing to make the family better. Ill draw a picture for the refrigerator, promised Brian. That doesnt make the family better, argued Scott. Brian kept on drawing pictures.

Over the years we found many ways to make the family better:

1. We played family games.
2. We planned family trips.
3. The boys promised to do their homework before playing.
4. Scott promised not to tease Brian.
5. Brian promised to clear the table right after dinner, etc.

Once we got started we felt a special closeness as we worked together. You will too. Thats why I created Character Building with the Family Meeting Diary.

Remember how Brian always drew pictures to "make the family better?" Brian's an adult now. He still draws pictures. In fact, he designed my website. Be sure and take a peak. It's listed below.

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.