“But again, the foremost goal of the family meeting is connection. If your children are feeling pushed around or coerced, any invitation to do chores will result in epic power struggles. Children who feel heard and seen are generally more cooperative.

If you are looking for a manual, I recommend Katherine Foldes’s “Family Meeting Handbook: Here for Each Other, Hearing Each Other,” a short read and a practical resource for parents who want more guidance.” Meghan Leahy, Washington Post

This book provides practical and hands on tools for developing and refining family relationships.  Highly recommended for parents who are striving to promote a healthy and robust family system.” Maureen Sacks, MSW

“Overwhelmed by family dynamics? The author clearly lays out how to improve you family’s communications through easy to follow and implement strategy. You can do it! Talk to each other!” Tom and Lauren H.

“This book would have had a profound impact on my parenting! I bought copies for my sons to use with their children. Outstanding, practical and inspirational.” Susan P.

“My partner, my child, aged 7, and I had a family meeting just a few weeks ago that was just great. We kept it short and fun, and we came up with a fairly simple list of “family rules” that we have posted on the refrigerator. They include serious things that we all agreed to, like ‘We treat each other with kindness and respect’ and ‘We all help with the cleaning’ and ‘We have a family celebration at least twice a year.’ But we also came up with funny ones like ‘No singing like Bob Dylan’ and ‘No farting in the kitchen, unless you’re alone.’ We joke around a lot about violating those last two. Since we all devised this list of family rules together, my child is totally in favor of them (they’re his rules too), so I think this is a very good thing for him and for all of us.” Workshop participant M.C.