I knew that when I sent my first-born to school, I'd be relinquishing a lot of control — whether it was over the things she learned, the food she ate, or the people she surrounded herself with. I was even warned by seasoned parents to "pick my battles." But as a Type A mom, even I was shocked at the amount of things I felt compelled to speak up about. For example, when a recent school memo came home that referenced a lesson involving "policemen and firemen," I instantly wanted to swoop in and demand answers as to just how gender roles are being discussed in her classroom. Finding the balance between speaking up and entrusting my child's teachers to do their jobs is one of those struggles that I don't foresee getting any easier as the months go by.