Today I'm glad to have Scott Gale with me. He is the author of the book Your Family Constitution. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us today. Could you briefly tell us about yourself.
Married. Two boys (Jack-11 and Max-8). One dog, Rusty.
Wow, that was brief. Short and sweet to the point. Could you give us a fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact about me is that I spent two years in Australia and now am married to an Aussie. I spent a year on exchange during college and another year after I graduated.
So you've been to the Land down Under. How neat. Do you homeschool your children?
No. They are both in public school in our neighborhood.
What genre do you prefer to read from?
I really enjoy the non-fiction, spiritual genre. I find that these books help me learn about myself and prepare me to effectively deal with whatever cards life may deal.
What is it you like to do (personal hobby or activity)?
My favorite things to do are coach baseball and surf kayak.
Kayak now that sounds interesting. What do you find is the most difficult part of writing? How do you overcome it?The most difficult part of writing is knowing when to stop. I could still be word-smithing today if I hadn’t created an arbitrary deadline and called it quits.
Is that anything like a speaker--they have to know when to stand-up, speak-up, and shut-up. Have you written any other books? if so what?
No other books, just a lot of real estate related reports and business plans.
So you sell real estate. Sounds interesting. Could you share with us what exactly is a Family constitution?
A Family Constitution is a “family contract” placed in a template based on the US Constitution. For me and my family, it is a way for us to set clear expectations and boundaries within our home, as well as to establish a forum where we can discuss issues, needs and coordination. Structure was something that was sorely missed in our busy lives. Our Family Constitution not only provides this much-needed structure, but ensures that it is built on values that my wife and I feel are most important to the long-term health and development of our kids.
Do you feel everyone in the family should have a say in things?
Everyone has the ability to express their opinion, but my wife and I steer the ship. Any amendment to our Family Constitution must be approved by both of us.
What exactly to you mean when you refer to "dysfunctional family"?
What I mean is that we simply didn’t communicate well. My wife and I were running so fast, that we each had our own loose set of rules and standards. Expectations and boundaries were not coordinated, so none of knew exactly what standards (i.e. bedtimes, television viewing limitations, etc.) we were supposed to abide by. It left for conflict and frustration over even the simplest issues. Once we inserted clarity and consistency into our lives via our Family Constitution, we were able to really re-engage and get past some emotional baggage caused by the previous confusion.
How important is your family? Why
My family is everything to me. Nothing makes me feel more fulfilled than watching my kids develop into capable and kind young men. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to help shape their lives and share their love in the process.
What do you think is the hardest part of parenting?
The hardest part of parenting is fighting the urge to protect the kids. They need to be increasingly self-reliant as the get older, so my wife and I try to expose them more to the consequences of their decisions. Sometimes they make mistakes (i.e. forgetting to bring gear to football practice and getting an earful from a coach); however, there is no substitute for experience, good and bad.
What is the most rewarding part of parenting for you?
The most rewarding thing about parenting is watching the kids develop and show a passion for life. I love watching them compete in sports, enjoy their friends and family, or appreciate a good experience. I want the best for them and watching them embrace the good things in life is unbelievable fulfilling.
What is your family's favorite family activity?
Our favorite activity that we all enjoy is bocce. We can play it anywhere and we all really enjoy it.
My family loves that game too. I want to thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Do you have any closing remarks and How can someone find you on-line?
They can visit my website at www.yourfamilyconstitution.com or email me at scottg@yourfamilyconstitution.
It's been a delight to have you on my blog for this tour. I enjoyed reading your book.
Readers you may find out more about Scott's book here.
Read my review here.
Scott has graciously donated two copies of his book for a giveaway. Get details here.
Read some tips from Scott on creating effective boundaries and inspiring cooperative behavior in your household…here.
This book was provided for review by Virtual book tours.
Visit Virtual tours here
1 comment:
I giggled at the answers to his first questions...straight to the point, such a man!!
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