I’ve debated about posting something about school sign-ups — which are going on right now all over the U.S. But then, oh, how I wish I’d known about this back in 1999, when I was still a new mother with two young children, and we moved.

I didn’t know about school registrations until it was too late. If you want to get your children in the school of your choice next year, March is the time to do it. Don’t wait until June or July, when it’s hot, and you’re feeling frazzled. It will be too late then. Most good preschools have a waiting list by the end of March.

In our area, we live five minutes from our church, which has a wonderful preschool — I love it. Since we presently have a child enrolled in the school, we can register for next year a day before it’s open to the public — but even so, I’ve learned I have to get to the school at least an hour before the sign-ups start, or most of the classes are filled. By the end of registration, there is a long waiting list of parents hoping someone will drop out and open up a spot for fall.

I’ve changed my thinking about preschool — I used to feel like it was unnecessary — especially for stay-home moms! But now I know that it’s not about getting kids to speed-read by the age of 4; it’s about building relationships — and giving moms a little break.

We used to live in a town that had several active play groups, and the moms would meet at local parks — so we got plenty of social interaction. Then we moved — and it was a real struggle for me to even see other moms like me.

We lived on a rural road where it wasn’t safe for me to walk alone with a stroller — although I did anyway out of the need for exercise. We moved in June, and by the time September came around, I thought it might be nice to have my oldest (who had just turned three) enrolled in a little morning preschool a couple of times a week. But when I started calling around, I was told, “I’m sorry. Our slots were all filled in March. Would you like us to add you to our waiting list?”

So, that was the year we got involved in toddler gymnastics and mommy-and-me art, which helped get me out of the house to meet other moms and kids. And I became a faithful attender to the Wednesday morning library storytime.

But I learned my lesson — and got my oldest signed up for school by March the next year (by then I was pregnant with #3 and really needing some help). The morning preschool was great for my son, even though we decided to homeschool him for the next three years. It gave our mornings a nice routine and allowed me an easy way to interact with other families who had children the same age as mine.

All this to say — if you’re even considering the possibility of enrolling your kids in school next year, start doing some research now. Call churches in your area — or the area where you’re moving — and see if they have a preschool. If you’re a homeschooling mother, don’t feel bad if you want some help with your younger kids. There are several homeschool moms who still use our preschool for their younger children — they say it frees up their morning to focus on teaching the older ones. (It helps when dad can manage the morning drop-off!)

Some of you are reading this thinking your kids are doing quite fine without a preschool — who needs it? I applaud you amazing women! Everyone is different — and I have learned from over a decade of being a mom that I thrive on having a routine outside of my home. I tried desperately one year to employ the Managers of Their Home workbook by the Maxwells with all the color-coded cards and disciplined schedules — and I know moms who love doing this — but it just didn’t work for us.

Our preschool sign-ups are next week — and I’ve already got the paperwork filled out for my youngest two children to go! We’ll still have plenty of time to be together at home — but I’m looking forward to a change of pace — getting out of the house more, volunteering in my older kids’ Christian school, and joining an exercise class without having to worry about child care.

Whatever you decide to do — March is the time to make your plans.