It’s that time of year again–back to school! Every September I tell myself I’m not going to get anxious about it, and yet I still do. For me, it’s the sense of losing control that comes with my daughter getting older. As she enters each new grade, it gets harder to admit she’s growing up and I can be less involved.

I’m still waiting to meet Isabel’s newest teacher, whose letter to parents I’ve read about 20 times, trying to discern what she’ll be like. I was tempted to Google her, or check to see if she’s on Facebook, but I forced myself to get a grip, for Isabel’s sake! Last year, I didn’t succeed in having the most positive parent-teacher relationship, which prompted me to include this month’s article about improving parent-teacher rapport. I hope you’ll also find it helpful as you face a new school year with new teachers.

The end of this month also marks the Jewish New Year–a time to reflect on how we want to live our lives and what we hope for our families and ourselves. Many parents I’ve spoken with say they want to expose their children to Jewish values at a young age, and what better way than through reading stories and having meaningful discussions? So this month kicks off our new “Speak Volumes” column, a Jewish-values book curriculum that we hope you’ll enjoy. Let me know what you think after trying it with your family!

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