Involved But Not Overbearing
Parent-Teacher Etiquette to Support Your Child’s Development
Janet is also sympathetic to clients going through difficult times. She notes, “The hard part is when someone comes in for dry cleaning for a funeral. It’s difficult to tell them to have a great day during a sad time. I try to make everybody feel good, no matter what’s going on.” Just like with our clients, when a team member is having a hard time, Janet is there for them. When one of our team members felt like they were doing everything wrong, Janet reaffirmed what a valued part of the team they were. “I couldn’t confirm enough how well she does her job,” Janet recalls. “People are always happy to see her and our clients love her. I tell her she does a great job.” On the weekends, Janet enjoys spending time with her daughters. They enjoy going for walks together and quiet evenings at home. Even though Janet doesn’t have to be in to work early for her shift, she’s always there to make sure everything gets done. “I can’t help but be early to work,” she says. It sounds like a good habit to us, and just one of many attributes that makes Janet great at her job. 2. SHOW UP AND KEEP AN OPEN MIND. Ask any teacher in the country, and they’ll undoubtedly tell you that one of the best predictors of a child’s success is whether or not their parents make an appearance at parent- teacher conferences. Your engagement should go beyond that. Use the teacher’s preferred method of communication to stay in semi-regular contact with them — always ensuring that you keep an open mind about any praise, suggestions, or concerns they have about your child. 3. TEACH YOUR CHILD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. Aside from leaving your kid completely to their own devices, one of the worst things you can do is swoop in to solve their problems for them at the slightest hint of adversity. Maybe that D your kid got on their algebra test really was their fault. It’s important to acknowledge your child’s missteps, but you should also try to equip them with the tools necessary to advocate for themselves. Learning to articulate what’s going wrong or what they need from their teacher will help them to develop positive and effective communication skills. The key is to work together with your child’s teacher without being overbearing. Don’t come in with guns blazing at the first sign of an educational slip. Think of your kid’s schooling as a collaborative effort — maybe one in which you’re a little less involved than the teacher — and you’ll be giving your child the best chance of success.
Helicopter parents are the bane of every teacher’s existence. With the return of back-to-school season, it’s vital to find a happy medium between the tiger mom who bares her teeth at the smallest setback in her child’s schooling and the laissez- faire parent who is totally disengaged from their kid’s education. Here are a few tips to keep you involved in your child’s educational development while fostering relationships with their teachers in a way that won’t drive all of you up the wall. 1. BE A LITTLE EMPATHETIC. Teachers are some of the hardest-working people in the world, wrangling the disparate needs of around 25 children day in and day out while attempting to get them to actually learn something. It’s a high-stress, low-paying job. In the midst of grading 300 research papers written by 12-year-olds, the last thing they need is the added pressure of concerned parents bearing down on them. If you can approach a teacher from a position of understanding and be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, you’ll be off to a good start.
How Janet Makes Sure Our Employees and Clients Feel Valued
Janet Ruckle is a store manager at In the Bag Cleaners, and she’s been with our company for six years. She first learned about In the Bag Cleaners from a friend who worked here. “She’d always say such great things about In the Bag Cleaners,” Janet says. Her friend’s guidance made jumping into a leadership role easier. “She pre-trained me, so I kind of knew what I was stepping into,” Janet admits.
Being a leader comes naturally to Janet, and her passion for people is part of that.
Her favorite part about her job is the people. Janet says, “I love the people. Not only the ones I work with, but the clients who come in and share everything about themselves. One lady opened her door in the parking lot, touching another woman’s door. She apologized, and now, they get together every Wednesday.”
We’re so glad to have someone as hardworking and passionate as Janet at the helm of our store. We know you will be, too.
2 • In The Bag Cleaners • inthebagcleaners.com • (316) 267-3407
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