I have friends who do ask the parents to join in for Christmas and summer BBQ's. Personally, I had all the parents/grandparents invited for my oldest 2 who graduated in Sept. and that was my first experience with a parent party. I had finger foods and punch and we practiced a show for weeks and had a whole ceremony. I'm willing to do that once a year if I have graduates because I think that is really special and a good way to let everyone have some closure, but there is no way I'm dealing with it any other time of the year. Why? Because I have a boy who is a totally different child when his parents are in his vicinity and I cannot stand it. If that never happens again I may change my mind, but as long as he's here - NO!

So I guess what I am saying is that dropoff and pickup times should give you big clues about the behaviour of the children with their parents and you should weigh your relationships with the families as well.