Some parent conversations are hard work. Some are draining. And some… are wins. Here’s a simple leadership habit: Make space to share “What worked.”

Your Home-School Agreement is one of the most under-used tools for managing parental relationships. Most of the time, it goes like this: A child joins the school, parents are given a copy, they sign it… and it disappears into a folder. Rarely looked at. Rarely remembered. Which is a shame — because if it’s done well, it can head off many of the parental issues you’re facing.

Some issues become niggles that drag on. You know the ones I mean: A parent is unhappy about a decision — their daughter should have been picked for the team. A parent insists their son would never behave that way — maybe not at home, but he does at school. A carer says their child is being picked on and the perpetrator must be moved to another class. Now!

Ever felt like you’re walking on eggshells with a parent? Maybe they storm in. Raise their voice. Question your judgement. Or drop a comment that sticks in your head for days. Other times, they’re less direct, but you still leave the conversation second-guessing every word.