We live about 10 blocks from our kid's elementary school - just a little too far too walk, but too close to use the bus. So we drive them in each day.

Last week I started taking on the delivery honors. Imagine 3 kids and me crammed into my Ford Ranger extended cab, with my laptop and their backpacks piled up between two kids in the back. They love it!

There's nothing like "riding in Dad's truck"

For me, it's a great time to talk with each of them briefly before their day starts off... ask them what they'll be doing in school today (music, PE, special reports, etc).

It's also a chance for me to be "crazy dad" for a few minutes and get them laughing their heads off.

There's a cost though: I drop them off at 7:45, which puts me smack dab into the worst of rush hour traffic. It almost doubles my commute time into Portland, from a usual 35 minutes to a solid hour each way. And it puts me home later too.

But it's SO worth it! I asked them all yesterday if they liked me taking them to school, and their faces all lit up with big smiles as they shouted "YEAH!!"

I encourage you to try to take your kids to school if you can. It won't be long before they might be too embarrassed to be seen with you, so take advantage of the time while you can.