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Parenthood

 At times, parenting feels like a competitive sport.

We talked with a nice couple yesterday who have their eighteen-month-old learning Mandarin and Spanish, in addition to English. ("They sit in instructional circles at the Goddard School. Our daughter comes home saying MA, and she does not mean MOTHER. She means MAS, as in MAS COMIDA, POR FAVOR.")

The subject switched to dental care. "It's good to have your child see the dentist before he is two, just to get the routine started. Basically, the dentist will give your kid a sticker and tell him he has nice teeth. We have a name we can give you. Great guy. He has your child sit with a therapy dog throughout the visit."

These parents also had a detailed plan for filling three hours of a toddler's in-flight experience. Decals, sensory activities, pre-boarding calisthenics.

That's my life, for now.
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