If you want to start the New Year right, avoid doing the following:

1. Ask about how your child is doing at pick-up in front of other parents, instead of scheduling a conference.
2. Send your child to school without a jacket when it’s below 60 degrees.
3. Assume that just because you can skip breakfast once in a while, it’s ok for your child to do the same.
4. Think that a donut or any other sugary breakfast is a good way to start the school day.
5. Encourage your child to keep a cell phone on in their backpack in case you need to reach them.
6. Be late for pickup.
7. Forget to check your child’s homework, backpack or folder.
8. Force the teacher to send you several reminders before you remember to send back in permission slips or other important papers.
9. Make excuses for your child’s inappropriate behavior.
10. Let your child stay up as late as he wants.