Ep 1. Be True to Your Preschool

In the season 5 premiere of Family Ties, titled "Be True to Your Preschool," the Keaton family faces new challenges as their youngest child, Andrew, starts preschool. The episode begins with Steven (Michael Gross) and Elyse (Meredith Baxter) getting Andrew ready for his first day of school. They are excited to have some alone time as they drop him off at the preschool, but their excitement quickly turns into worry when they notice that Andrew seems uncertain about starting school.

Meanwhile, Alex (Michael J. Fox) has just returned from his summer job on Capitol Hill and is looking forward to catching up with his family. He is still struggling with his decision to leave college and pursue a career in politics, and is unsure of how his parents will react to his new job offer in Washington, D.C.

As the day goes on, Steven and Elyse become increasingly anxious about Andrew's adjustment to preschool. They decide to visit him at school, but their plan backfires when Andrew sees them and becomes upset. They quickly realize that they need to trust their son and let him adjust to his new environment on his own.

Meanwhile, Alex has a tense conversation with his parents about his job offer. Steven and Elyse are disappointed that he has decided to put his education on hold, but eventually come around to the idea when they see how passionate he is about his new job. Alex is relieved and grateful for their support.

Back at preschool, Andrew has a breakthrough moment and begins to enjoy his new surroundings. He even makes a new friend, much to his parents' delight. Steven and Elyse are proud of their son's bravery and growth, and are grateful for the lesson they learned about trusting him.

Overall, "Be True to Your Preschool" is a heartwarming and relatable episode about the challenges of parenting and the importance of trusting your children to navigate new experiences. It also touches on themes of pursuing one's passions and the value of education, as seen through Alex's storyline.