"Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding..." - Proverbs 3:5
 It’s easier than ever to look around and be bombarded with the perfect families in your community that seem to swing through life with ease. The pressure to raise intelligent, well-adjusted, successful children can weigh greatly on families and steal their joy.
 We’ve all heard the phrase helicopter parenting. It’s an unflattering term that describes the innate desire in us as parents to provide the best opportunities for our children. While that desire comes from a great place, it isn’t always the best tool to set your children up for success.
 So, you’re about to send your child off to kindergarten. We understand this is a huge moment for you, and the first big step in their formal education. You’ve already decided that private school is the right option for your family, and you’ve probably already selected a school, but how do you know what to look for in a kindergarten teacher?
 It is impossible to escape the fact that people come in all kinds of different styles, temperaments, and ability levels. You see this on display at your office, in your family, and within other organizations that you belong. So why is it that we would expect children to be any different?
 It’s a stressful world out there, and these days more than ever there is so much pressure on parents to raise the perfect kids, have the perfect job and keep a perfect home all the while keeping a relaxed smile on your face. And while there isn’t much we can do about pressures coming from the outside, we can work to create a relaxed and low-stress environment in our lives and in our homes. If all of this seems too overwhelming to you, here are some parenting tips that might help you.
 These days there is no limit to the number of activities your kids can be involved in. You’re taking them from extracurriculars at school, to soccer practice in the afternoons, youth group at church, girl scouts, art classes, and even more. On one hand, the opportunity to introduce your children to a wide array of experiences can provide them powerful inspiration in their lives. On the other hand, each new hobby drives them farther away from the things that matter most.
 We all remember those days in childhood where suddenly something changes in the culture and everyone is just trying their hardest to fit in. This isn’t a new phenomenon, young people have been trying to fit in since the beginning of time. But now, as an adult and a parent, you know that your children are perfect just the way they are and should feel free to express themselves just the way they were made.
 Christmas break is over and, as parents and educators in the 21st century, there was a lot to ponder during our time off. Just as we must be adaptable in our vacation plans over the break, we must also be adaptable as teachers. Effective teachers share the characteristic of “adaptive expertise, allowing for making judgments about what it is like to work in a given context in response to student needs” (Darling-Hammond, et. al, 2009). This is especially true for educators in the 21st century.
 Depending on where you live, chances are there are several institutions of private education in your community to choose from. And since not all private schools are the same, how do you choose the school that is best for you and your family? To start with, you can begin by doing research on each of the schools you’re considering, but the best way to determine which school is the right fit is to go there and ask a lot of questions. Here are four questions we think you should consider asking before investing in private education.
 Some children take to school very easily, while others need a little more support to enjoy their time in the classroom. If your child fits into the latter category there are plenty of ways you can support them and help make education fun. Check out the following three parenting tips to learn more.
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