Donovan Webster brings his vivid journalistic gifts to a new subject, tracing our deep genealogy using cutting-edge DNA research to map our eons-old journey from prehistoric Africa into the modern world. With the same genetic haplotype as many white American males, Webster makes an ideal subject—he is a genuine Everyman. While his voice and spirit are unique to him, in exploring his own ancestry, he shows us our own. Drawing on National Geographic’s Genographic Project, the largest anthropologic DNA study of its kind, Webster traces centuries of migrations, everywhere finding members of his now far-flung genetic family. In Tanzania’s Rift Valley, he hunts with Julius, whose tribe speaks a click language, and wanders the ruins of ancient Mesopotamia with Mohamed and Khalid, now Jordanian citizens. In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, eastern frontier of his ancestral roaming, a circus ringmaster becomes both friend and link to his primal bloodline. Webster’s genographic quest leads him to contemplate what traits he shares with those he meets, and considers what they and their ways of life reveal about the deep history of our species. A lifetime of journalistic travels among a wide range of cultures furnish Webster with a wealth of colorful threads to weave into a story as particularly personal as it is universally human.

Family meetings are proven ways to involve everyone-kids and adults-in planning, solving problems, creating traditions, and staying close. This inviting book makes family meetings meaningful, manageable, and fun for everyone. Includes 52 agendas and many write-on pages.

Based on the personal experience of a family counselor and parent, this handbook for parents describes the technique of "Family Meetings," a way of bettering family relationships, solving problems, and nurturing opportunities for children to learn fairness, respect, and self-esteem. The key principle of such family meetings is that family decisions are made by everyone's agreement. A key outcome is the reduction in the number of times parents have to say "no" to their children. Contents of the handbook provide guidelines for holding family meetings, discuss family meetings in different types of families, relate anecdotes about family problems and the use of family meetings to resolve the problems, discuss the use of the family meeting notebook, and offer hints and suggestions about the range and type of issues parents would like to and/or be obliged to deal with in the meetings. Also included in the handbook are games and activities for use in family meetings and a 17-page annotated bibliography citing related resources. (RH)

Character Building with the Family Meeting Diary helps families become caring, close-knit and helpful. This 8 1/4" X 11" Diary outlines 52 ready to use family meetings to fill in and cherish. The Family Meeting Diary opens by praising each member for the positive actions he or she did the previous week. The family learns listening skills, how to solve family problems, and plan fun events together. The Family Meeting Diary ends with each member committing to a specific, positive action to "make the family better." These commitments are posted on the refrigerator as visual reminders to all family members. Jean Tracy says, "Parents have the power to do what no one else can do better. Parents can give hope to the future by building character in their children now." With less than 30 minutes per meeting per week, families produce and record a year of treasured historical meetings. This keepsake will hold what the family dealt with, which problems they solved, and what they promised to do to make the family better. Whether a single parent, a stepparent, an adoptive family, a foster parent, or a two-parent family, this Family Meeting Diary offers a powerful approach to building a strong, loving family with solid ties.

All it takes for families to grow closer together is intentionality and a roadmap. The Family Meeting Guide is your roadmap. This interactive guide will walk you step-by-step through the life-changing process of having a Family Meeting. The annual tradition of a Family Meeting is a time of coming together to define and reaffirm values, share vision and self-discovery, overcome challenges and fears, and set out on a mission to fulfill all God has created you to do both individually and as a family. A new version is released annually so that you and your family can continue using the resource as your journey unfolds. The Family Meeting Guide was created with all types of families in mind because it doesn't matter what your family looks like, what challenges you might be facing, or what stage of life you are in. Your Legacy Starts Today.

The Family Meeting Handbook; is a step-by-step guide for parents on how to hold Family Meetings that: prevent problems keep parents up to date give children a say build the family unit improve communication plan fun activities When Family Meetings are recommended to parents, there is often little guidance. Parents have questions. The Family Meetings Handbook's easy question-and-answer format helps parents conduct meetings that build relationships and communication at the same time. For an easy reference book with stories, examples, tips and much more, use the Family Meetings Handbook."