Rock Rock Silly: If you don't have a kid in preschool you will think I'm crazy...

...for spending so much time thinking about what class I should put Jett in and which class all of his friends are in. But that is because preschool doesn't make up most of your social life.

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On the last day of preschool we parents presented the teachers with a framed piece of artwork by the kids. Jett’s lead teacher was so touched that she started to cry. When I hugged his other teacher goodbye, tears welled up in her eyes. His teacher called our class “a breath of fresh air”. She said we were a family. She might have said that to all of the classes, but still, I think most of us believed her.

Our kids were signed up to be spread out between the different class next year. There are three different time slots to choose from, and most of us went with the logical approach. After much hemming and hawing, we chose the time slot that worked best for our own family. It all seemed fine on paper, until the last day of class. As I mentioned above, it was a little emotional. We were a little wistful. Some of us were teary.

Some of us wondered what the heck we were doing signing up for an earlier class when so many of our kid's friends had stayed in the late class. Some of us started to think that maybe what was best for our family was to get all of us in the same class again. This year was so much fun. We wanted our kids to stay with their friends. We wanted to stay with our friends.

So on the last day of school those of us who had signed up for the earlier class next year asked if we could get our kids back in to the late class, so we could be with all of our friends. We were those parents. I was that parent.

To explain, no new preK parent wants the late class. It messes up nap schedules and pushes dinner back to late in the evening. None of us wanted it last year either, but we were in it because we were the new families, and none of the second year families would trade down.

Now we know better. The late class has benefits. Our kids play on the playground after school and they are often the only ones there because school got out hours ago and all of the older kids have gone home. By the time we get our kids home, there's just time for dinner, bath, and bed. No more entertaining, no more scattering toys all over the house. The day is done. Plus, we don't have to be out of the house until the next afternoon.

Now we know better, so this year we traded down. Our teacher, bless her soul, made the phone calls at the eleventh hour and found families who wanted to trade. It was extra work for her, but we probably made those families' year. And vice-versa. School next year is going to be great.