“We didn’t build SF2 because we had extra time. We built it because we kept realizing, weeks after the fact, that one of our kids had been struggling with something and we had missed the window to help early.”

– Esther Jackson-Stowell

This workbook was born from Episode 1 of The Broker’s Table. Rich built the structure. Esther added the questions.

What Is the SF2 Method?

Most families don’t lack love. They lack a structure for checking in. The SF2 system is a 15-to-20-minute weekly conversation covering four areas.

• School. How is learning going? What is hard right now? What is working?
• Sleep. How is sleep quality and duration? Sleep is the first thing to change when something is wrong.
• Family. How are we doing as a unit? Any tension, any appreciation, anything unsaid?
• Friends. Who is in your life right now? How are those relationships going?

How it works:

• One conversation per week, same time, same place if possible.
• The parent leads but does not dominate. You ask; you listen more than you talk.
• No phones at the table.
• No punishing honesty. Your first response to hard news is curiosity, not correction.
• Keep notes. The quarterly review section shows you why.

The One Rule That Made Everything Else Work

During SF2, nobody gets in trouble for what they share. The moment you use the check-in to discipline, children learn not to be honest during it, and you have lost the tool. Address things separately, after you have had time to think. The check-in itself is a listening space, not a courtroom.

Weekly Check-In Template

Print this page and use it each week.

Family: _________________________ Week of: _________________________

Who is present: _________________________

School

What was the best thing that happened this week in school/work? ____________________________________________________________

What was the hardest thing? ____________________________________________________________

Is there anything you are worried about or need help with? ____________________________________________________________

Scale 1-5, how are you feeling about school/work overall?
Child/Person 1: _____ Child/Person 2: _____ Child/Person 3: _____

Sleep

How has sleep been this week?
Child/Person 1: Much better / A little better / About the same / A little worse / Much worse
Child/Person 2: Much better / A little better / About the same / A little worse / Much worse

Any changes to sleep routine, nightmares, or unusual fatigue? ____________________________________________________________

Family

What is one thing you appreciated about our family this week? ____________________________________________________________

Is there anything in our home or family that felt hard or unfair this week? ____________________________________________________________

Is there anything you want us to do more of, or less of, as a family? ____________________________________________________________

Friends

Who did you spend time with this week? ____________________________________________________________

How are those friendships feeling? Any tension, any new people, anyone you are worried about? ____________________________________________________________

Is there anyone you wish you were spending more time with? ____________________________________________________________

Parent notes – things to follow up on: ____________________________________________________________

One thing we are grateful for as a family this week: ____________________________________________________________

Conversation Starter Cards by Age

Ages 3 to 7

• What was the funniest thing that happened today?
• Did anyone make you feel left out today?
• What did you learn at school that you want to teach me?
• Who do you like playing with the most right now?
• What do you wish I knew about your day?

Ages 8 to 11

• What is one thing you’re proud of this week?
• Who are your closest friends right now? What are they like?
• Is there anything happening at school that you haven’t told us yet?
• What worries you most about the next few months?

Ages 12 to 15

• What was something hard this week that you handled well?
• How are you sleeping, and be honest?
• Is social media feeling good or bad this week, and what is actually happening there?
• What do you need from me that I’m not currently giving you?

Ages 16 to 18

• What’s something you’re building or working on right now that you’re genuinely excited about?
• How are you feeling about the future, honestly?
• Is there anything in our family dynamic that you think needs to change?
• What do you wish we talked about more?

Adult Children and Aging Parents

• How are you actually doing – not the version you tell everyone?
• Is there anything you need that you haven’t asked for?
• Is there anything in our relationship that needs to be said?

Quarterly Review Template

Quarter: _______ Year: _______

How many weeks did we complete SF2 this quarter? _____ of 13

School: patterns over the quarter. ____________________________________________________________

Sleep: patterns over the quarter. ____________________________________________________________

Family: patterns over the quarter. ____________________________________________________________

Friends: patterns over the quarter. ____________________________________________________________

Three things we want to do differently next quarter:
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________

One thing we want to keep doing: ____________________________________________________________

You Now Have the System. The Rest Is Showing Up.

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Listen to Episode 1: “Leadership, Love and the Warrior Ethos with Dr. Rich Stowell”

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