I've had to learn the art of being insincere. Believe me, that doesn't come easy to me! We live a 1 minute walk away from the best school in the district, and almost everyone in my close-knit neighborhood sends their kids there. All the parents of MG kids rave about it. Makes for some awkward conversations. I've simply memorized a patter about it, tagging the bases of "personal fit" and my daughter needing a small school.

But it's a fine line. When they ask what grade she's in and I say 1st, and they get edgy and start probing for more information, I casually mention that she's in a combined K/1st classroom and they visibly relax. Anyway, I've started to realize I have this conversation in front of DD sometimes, and it sends her a message that I don't like. It's tricky.