Sophie’s dating, and I think it’s serious. She’s had playdates before, sure. Good playdates, even — sweet little kids with well-meaning mothers. Kids who like Sophie, I know that. But true friends? Real play? I haven’t been sure. Until Sarah. Early in kindergarten — almost a year ago now — Ms. X started telling me […]

(NOTE: SOPHIE’S PLAY DATE’S NAME IS SPELLED Niamh — I BOTCHED IT BELOW.) “Hey, she’s 5 and I’m 4 and I’m bigger than her!” Neve commented, not at all unkindly. Yes, I thought to myself, and in every way: Neve is an adorable, precocious little girl (little, though she probably DOES stand a head taller […]

Last night I made the girls an extra bubbly bath, and forced them both to endure the worst possible torture: hair combing. Sophie negotiated some extra TV time, and grabbed a book she insisted I read after the brush was relinquished and her hair braided. She was obsessed with one book, called “Countdown to the […]