Parentotheca’s Newsletter
Learn. Parent. Grow.
Issue #4 – August 2025
👋 Hello Friends
This morning I waved my kids off at the school gate and felt that familiar mix of relief and nostalgia. Relief, because finally my days have a bit more structure (my sanity was hanging by a thread). Nostalgia, because summer is gone: the easy mornings, the messy adventures, the kind of family time that can’t be squeezed between all the clubs, homework and bedtime routines.
And as I walked home, I found myself thinking about all the back-to-school conversations I’ve had lately. Back to school anxiety, secondary school transitions, and the eternal debates whether schools prepare kids for life or just for exams. And that nagging inner voice asking: Am I doing enough? Did I choose the right school? Sign up for the right activities? Or am I already falling behind as a parent?
If you’ve had those thoughts too – you’re not alone. In fact, that’s exactly what this newsletter is about. Here’s what you’ll find inside this issue:
- 🔍 Monthly Insight: Why the real purpose of education has nothing to do with test scores.
- 📚 From the Library: A powerful lesson from the world’s longest human development study on how parents shape their child’s future.
- 🛠️ Parentotheca’s Toolbox: The simplest, most overlooked tool to boost your child’s learning this year.
So, grab your coffee (or that reheated tea you’ve already forgotten twice), and let’s talk about how we, as parents, can give our kids what the system often doesn’t.
And if you’re a parent who feels like you’re doing all the things but still worry it’s not enough, that’s exactly what I help with. I coach parents to grow as people so their kids can thrive. I’ve got 2 coaching spots open this month – hit reply if you want one of them (and get 50% off your first coaching session – details below).
✨ If you’re not already following me on Instagram or Facebook, please come say hi – I’d love to connect with you there!
Happy New Academic Year!
🔍 Monthly Insight: The Real Purpose of Education
“The purpose of education is to engage students with their passions and growing sense of purpose, teach them critical skills needed for career and citizenship, and inspire them to do their very best to make their world better.”
© Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith. Most Likely to Succeed.
Last week, a friend sighed over coffee and said, “Sometimes I feel like kids don’t really learn enough at school. When I was my daughter’s age, we had way more general knowledge.”
I knew exactly what she meant. My school years were the same – stuffing random facts into my brain, racing to memorize and regurgitate them for tests. But that conversation made me stop and ask: What’s the real purpose of education?
And here’s the truth: it’s not to memorize facts, kids forget the moment the test is over. The real purpose is three things:
Passion. Skills. Inspiration.
That’s what lights kids up. That’s what prepares them for life. I’d rather raise a child who knows their own strengths than one who can rattle off the capital of Ethiopia (it’s Addis Ababa, in case you’re curious).
And yet, most schools still miss the mark. Which means the challenge, and the opportunity, falls to us as parents: to give our kids at home what the system often doesn’t.
📚 From the Library: What Matters More Than School (Based on Science)
When I first came across Helen Pearson’s The Life Project: The Untold Story of How a Group of Mavericks, Midwives and Pioneers Changed the Lives of Everyone in Britain, one story struck me most.
As part of the British Cohort Studies – the largest human development study ever – researchers followed hundreds of children born into poverty, most of whom were considered “destined to fail.” Yet, among them, 83 beat the odds and went on to thrive.
What set them apart? Just two things:
- An internal drive to create a better life.
- Parents who believed in them – setting high expectations for education and future and creating a rich learning environment.
It wasn’t expensive schools or endless tutoring. It was parents reading, talking, showing warmth, and setting high expectations. The kind of everyday moments you and I create at the dinner table, bedtime, or on the school run.
That’s the quiet power of good parenting and it’s bigger than any catchment area.
I’ve also pulled together 5 science-backed secrets of good parenting to help your child thrive in life – check it out.
And if you prefer a quicker start, here is Helen’s TED Talk:
🛠️ Parentotheca’s Toolbox: Supercharge Your Child’s Learning This Year
This school year, if you focus on just one thing to supercharge your child’s learning – make it sleep.
We all know sleep is essential for health and focus. But here’s the scary truth: nearly a third of kids in the UK and US aren’t getting enough of it. And tired brains don’t learn well.
The good news? The fix is simple. Both quantity and quality matter, and you can help by building a solid sleep routine. Here are my top 3 tips:
- Morning sunlight: Just 15 minutes outside resets the body clock and sets kids up for better sleep later.
- Screens off before bed: No phones, TVs, or tablets at least an hour before bedtime. (Blue light is basically sleep’s worst enemy.)
- Consistent rituals: Same bedtime, same routine. A wind-down ritual tells the brain, “Hey, it’s time to switch off.”
And if your child insists there’s a monster under the bed keeping them awake – I’ve got you covered. I wrote a full article on how to handle that one.
P.S. This isn’t just for kids. Adults need decent sleep too—yes, that means you. If you need convincing, watch this TED Talk.
🆕 What’s New on Parentotheca
Here’s what dropped this month:
✅ New Book Summary:
- It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad
✅ New Article:
🧭 Coach’s Corner: I’m Here to Help
Parenting is the most meaningful – and the most demanding – role you’ll ever take on. But you don’t have to do it alone.
As a parent and life coach, I help you grow in confidence, clarity, and skill so you can raise resilient, emotionally healthy kids and build the connected, joyful family you want.
A mum I coached recently said, “I feel like I’m failing at both work and parenting.” Together, we built a simple strategy to balance boundaries and connection. A few sessions later, she told me, “I actually enjoy parenting again.”
That’s the shift I want for every parent I work with: from stress and self-doubt → to calm, clarity, and connection.
Here’s what coaching with me looks like:
- Personalized roadmap → tailored to you, your child, and your family.
- Practical tools → step-by-step strategies you can use immediately.
- Confidence + clarity → so you know exactly how to handle tough parenting moments.
- Emotional connection → raising resilient kids while strengthening your bond.
✨ This school year, let’s make parenting feel calmer, more connected, and more intentional.
Not sure if coaching is right for you? That’s why I offer a free discovery call – no pressure, just a conversation.
💡 Special for newsletter readers: Get 50% off your first coaching session. Simply reply to this email and I’ll send you a private booking link.
Let’s make this the turning point.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Parenting is hard. But don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.
Talk soon,
Irina
