Dear Jasmina

Playdates for less-than-one year olds are rather short, because before two hours are up, one of the two will rub their eyes with clumsy little fists, which, more reliable than any other sign, means it’s naptime. Now, Marie-Hélène is rather sheltered… She spends her days rather quietly with her Mama who only occasionaly listens to the radio, and at other times, listens to more classical music. Marie-Hélène simply squeaks, and her Mama will usually appear. Her friend Sylvie, on the other hand, has an older brother and that is rather self-explanatory. So, on that first playdate, a part of the time, Marie-Hélène sat primly observing her friend who could talk five times louder and move twice as much as herself, as though Sylvie was a fascinating, albeit exhausting, phenomenon. I’ve decided more playdates are in order.