    # File lib/active_record/association_preload.rb, line 86
          def preload_associations(records, associations, preload_options={})
            records = [records].flatten.compact.uniq
            return if records.empty?
            case associations
            when Array then associations.each {|association| preload_associations(records, association, preload_options)}
            when Symbol, String then preload_one_association(records, associations.to_sym, preload_options)
            when Hash then
              associations.each do |parent, child|
                raise "parent must be an association name" unless parent.is_a?(String) || parent.is_a?(Symbol)
                preload_associations(records, parent, preload_options)
                reflection = reflections[parent]
                parents = records.map {|record| record.send(reflection.name)}.flatten.compact
                unless parents.empty?
                  parents.first.class.preload_associations(parents, child)
                end
              end
            end
          end