Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

Many parents today, myself included, can get very anxious about their child's school performance and subsequent future. There is a lot that goes into parenting these days and it can be hard to know what matters and what doesn't.  Most parents only have a small sample of kids to use when thinking about what is "normal" and what is not. As a person who has seen hundreds of students as both a teacher and a tutor, I can say that there is no "normal" but there are things to consider and things to let go. Many parents turn to tutoring as a way to figure out what their child needs to succeed. This is a great strategy for some. Sometimes, however, it is not. Some students do not respond well to tutoring and see it as a shortcoming. Others, honestly, do not have the time. Parents might just need a quick consult with a qualified professional, such as a trained educator, to help them get a good sense of the landscape. Teachers can be helpful for this, but sometimes parents are not sure what to ask. I offer parents the opportunity to meet with me and answer some key questions about their child to get a deeper understanding of what might be going on. I can then help parents ask teachers specific questions to get more information.  From there, a quick plan or strategy can be implemented to quickly work on an area of parent concern. More often than not, I can allay parent fears because their child is progressing at the right pace and nothing more needs to be done except encouragement and time. If you feel you need this kind of support as a parent, give us a call. We are happy to help parents just as much as our students.