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The teachers in Rocco's pre-school class have always provided an open invitation for parents to come join their kids for lunch. And last week -- as I sometimes do -- I took them up on it. And now that pre-school's starting to draw to a close, I'm finding that I wouldn't mind going a few more times.

First off, once I tell Rocco I'll be coming, his enthusiasm is like rocket fuel.  "Yippee!," he'll whoop and holler. Then, when the time comes and I come to his school, and join him and his friends at their lunch table, they all treat me like a rock star. As they dive into their sandwiches and spaghetti, I get peppered with such amusing questions as, "Can you fuse bead a square?," "Do you know there's a dinosaur in 'Night at the Museum?'," "Are you going to the beach this weekend?," and "Can Rocco come to my house?"

It's undeniably exhilarating to be among the chatty, giggling crew. Of course I ask them about what they're eating, what they like and don't like, and -- if applicable -- why there's no green vegetable in their lunchbox today... all of which they think is an even bigger riot. And to see them interact with each other, with respectful, appropriate, and fun conversation, is a joy.

When the meal's finishing up, I let Rocco know I have to get back to work, and his friends dart off in different directions. For this brief time, I enter his at-school world... and it invigorates my whole day.