This week marks the end of Juliette’s Kindergarten and my first year driving her to school in the mornings on my way to work. I know that barely counts as carpooling, but the idea that it is now my turn to take my kids to school is yet another milestone in my parenting career.

Some things that I learned or just want to remember from this first year of driving Juliette to school:

1. It’s better to be early in the carpool lane, less stress for everybody, especially the driver.
2. Remember to stop the car before getting out. (ask Juliette, she’ll never let me forget)
3. Keep a bottle of water in the car in case they get thirsty. But don’t let them drink too much.
4. Juliette likes to take the street route rather than the freeway (except when daddy has a dealer loaner 3-series and is driving crazy).
5. Juliette likes to take “big turns”, just have to remember not to spill coffee.
6. NPR is not the best radio station for “young” ears. Turning off the radio to have an actual conversation with my kids is a good thing.
7. It took a whole year for me to finally remember her weekly class schedule. (and now it’s over)

Until the fall…